East Peoria, Ill. - It's been a busy week just taking into mind the MWAC opponents for ICC baseball (21-28, 15-13), but add a midweek matchup with the Carl Sandburg Chargers, and busy becomes busier. Wednesday night's matchup between the Cougars and Chargers would be the third meeting between the two programs, with the 'series' being a 1-1 split going into the day. Carl Sandburg slugged their way to an early 7-0 lead. The Cougars, despite one run on the board through seven innings, almost made the comeback, out-scoring the Chargers 5-2 over the last two innings. Ultimately, Carl Sandburg would hold off that surge and take a 9-6 win. 

The Chargers got to work with an RBI double and a two-run home run to go up 3-0 after an inning. That lead would swell, but this time, Carl Sandburg did it without an extra base hit - a pair of RBI singles. One more Charger run found its way to the scoreboard on a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning and create the aforementioned 7-0 lead. 

Then came the Cougar bats. Perhaps a surge of momentum was spurred on by Camden Porter, Beau Durbin, and Tyler Bishop combining to turn a double play as part of a scoreless fifth for the Chargers. In the bottom half, Matt Evans singled and Zach Otten followed that right up by drawing a walk to put a runner in scoring position. Durbin would line a single into the outfield to bring Evans home and cut the deficit to six. 

More quality defense would follow, with the left side of the Cougar infield aiding in the picking off of a Carl Sandburg baserunner - Jackson Powell, Bishop, and Porter were all part of the rundown. Now, ICC got into scoring position again with a Kaleb Gauf single and Tyler Bishop getting hit by a pitch, but a double play would end the inning. 

A theme seemed to develop - Carl Sandburg was certainly able to get baserunners on, but ICC, both on a pitching and fielding front, were able to keep those situations from turning into runs. However, the Cougars would go 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the seventh, perhaps breeding a bit of doubt into the game with the deficit still at six runs. 

Alas, the Cougars never backed down. Josh Heyder brought the power with a solo home run (11th of the season). Powell would draw a walk and Gauf would double to put ICC in a prime run-scoring situation. They would capitalize. Tyler Hansen was able to get an infield single to score Powell and make it an 8-3 game after eight. 

Going into the bottom of the ninth, ICC trailed 9-3. Carl Sandburg would make a slew of defensive changes before the inning got underway, and the Cougar offense looked like it was finding a rhythm. Heyder (RBI double) and Durbin (scored on error) got the game within four runs. The quality plate discipline continued, with Powell, Gauf, and Hansen combining for part of a four-walk inning. The Hansen walk came with the bases loaded and would ultimately set the 9-6 final score. 

A five-pitcher arsenal combined for nine strikeouts for the Cougars.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
In case some fans perhaps haven't seen just yet, the final MWAC series of the regular season against John Wood has had some schedule alterations versus what was originally set up. Now, the Cougars will go right back to work and host the Blazers for two at Thome Field tomorrow afternoon (starting at 12PM). The road portion of the series will still be taking place on Friday in Quincy. The series is no longer happening on Saturday.