MILWAUKEE -- Alverno College was one out away from a doubleheader sweep of Concordia University Chicago, but split the series with the Cougars as they dropped game one, 3-2, in extra innings and won the second game, 3-1, this afternoon at Alverno Field.

In the opener the visiting Cougars (6-18, 4-6 Northern Athletics Conference) were the first to score as Renee Benjamin homered to left field in the top of the third for the team's first hit of the game. But the Inferno (8-12, 3-5 NAC) strung four-consecutive hits together to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to take their first lead of the game, 2-1.

Ashleigh Sagat (New Berlin, Wis./Eisenhower) knocked home Chelsea Gulbronson (Milwaukee/Pius XI) on a single through the left side, and a Roxanne Kresmer (South Milwaukee, Wis.) single to left scored Stef Wilmore (Elkhart, Ind./Central), who reached on her fifth double of the season.

The Inferno threatened to extend the lead in the sixth, but left a pair of runners on second and third base.

Rookie starter Erin Dulek (Rosholt, Wis.) had allowed only two hits as she entered the circle in bottom of the seventh, but after a ground out, she issued her first and only walk of the game to put the tying run on base.

Dulek forced another ground out, but the runner advanced to second brining the Cougars' hurler Sami DeFord to the plate. DeFord took the first pitch to the left-field fence for a two-out RBI-double and tied the game at 2-2.

The Inferno had no answer in the bottom of the seventh, which forced the game into extra innings. Each team allowed a hit in the eighth, but no runs scored, until DeFord singled through the left side for another two-out RBI-hit in the ninth. DeFord (4-6) then retired the Inferno in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the complete-game victory.

Dulek (4-8) went the distance for the Inferno, as well, as she scattered six hits and struck out five on just 90 pitches in the extra-inning loss. Wilmore and Sagat each had a pair of hits to lead the offense.

In the second game of the twin bill, the Cougars again struck first, as a lead-off single came around to score in the top of the second, but that was all the damage that was done.

The fourth inning was again the inning the Inferno got the bats going, as the host team plated three runs on three hits to take a 3-1 lead. Bre Hart (Racine, Wis./Park) reached on a one-out walk and Gulbronson followed with a single to place two Inferno on base.

Wilmore and Sagat would then hit back-to-back doubles for the Inferno's only scores of the game, but it would be all the team would need as lefty Jamie Villalobos (Antioch, Ill.) pitched a five-hit in six full innings.

The Cougars' lead-off hitter would reach on an error, and Alverno head coach Kristin Ortman went the bullpen and called on Dulek for the close-out duty. The freshman hurler retired the next three batters in order to secure her second-career save as Villalobos increased her record to 3-3 on the season with the victory.

Wilmore and Sagat again led the offense with a pair of hits apiece, and Gulbronson had the Inferno's only other hit of the game, matching the Cougars five.

The Inferno has a few days off before another home NAC doubleheader on Wednesday versus Aurora University. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Alverno Field.