Concordia earns two wins at Arizona Spring Break Tournament
Concordia University picked up a pair of softball wins on Sunday in Arizona. The Bulldogs rallied for an exciting 4-3 win over Sienna Heights and then cruised past Robert Morris College by the score of 9-1 on Sunday evening. With the wins, Concordia improved to 3-1 on the season.
In the opening game of the day, the Saints struck first in the second inning. Sienna Heights totaled three hits in the inning, and Katie O’Hotzke’s 2-run double put the Saints on top 2-0.
Concordia got one run back in the bottom of the third. Natalie Svoboda (Lincoln, Neb.) delivered a clutch RBI single with two outs to score Nicole Baker (Arvada, Colo.) from second base. The Bulldogs loaded the bases later in the inning but were unable to score.
Sienna Heights added a single run in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Hannah McEwan. McEwan’s blast gave the Saints a 3-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Concordia had two hits and took advantage of two SHU errors to take the lead. Shelby Morose (Claremore, Okla.) reached on an error to open the inning. Morose stole second and scored on an RBI single by Alyssa Bauwens (Perryville, Mo.).
Nicole Mapes (Greeley, Colo.) pinch ran for Bauwens. Kelsey Timmerman (O’Neill, Neb.) put down a bunt and reached on a Sienna throwing error. The second error of the inning put runners at first and second with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt by Amber Topil (Seward, Neb.) advanced the runners to second and third with one out. Baker followed with a 2-run double to right field to give Concordia a 4-3 advantage.
Concordia starting pitcher Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.) kept Sienna Heights from scoring in the fifth, and Elizabeth Young (Grand Prairie, Texas) worked two scoreless innings to secure the 4-3 win for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs finished with five hits in the game. Baker was 1-for-3 with two RBI’s and a run scored to lead the way. Sempek (1-1) allowed three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in five innings of work to pick up the win on the mound. Young picked up her first save of the season.
McEwan went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI for Siena Heights. O’Hotzke went the distance on the mound for the Saints and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Concordia scored early and often in the win over Robert Morris. The Bulldogs took advantage of a Robert Morris error to take the lead in the first inning. Baker led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Svoboda. Clarissa Eloge (Rising City, Neb.) drove a fly ball to center field, and an error by the center fielder allowed Baker to score from second and give Concordia a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles tied the game with a single run in the top of the second. Madlyn Joyce singled to lead off the inning, and Jossilyn Jones drove her in with an RBI single.
The Bulldogs quickly reclaimed the lead with a single run in the bottom of the second. Elizabeth Young connected on a solo homer in her first career at bat to reclaim the lead for Concordia.
In the bottom of the third, Concordia broke the game wide open with four runs. The Bulldogs had five hits in the inning. Svoboda led off the inning with a solo homer. Following a single by Eloge, pitcher Amanda Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) followed with an RBI double. Mapes and Young also delivered RBI singles in the inning, as Concordia grabbed a 6-1 lead.
Concordia continued to pour it on with three more runs in the fourth inning. Baker and Svoboda singled to start the inning. Eloge followed with a 3-run blast to increase the Concordia lead to 9-1.
The Bulldogs finished with 11 hits in the game compared to just five for Robert Morris. Baker, Svoboda, Eloge, Mapes and Young all had two hits for a balanced Concordia offensive attack. Beeson (1-0) allowed the one run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in her first start of the season.
Concordia will take on Madonna University (10 am) and Olivet Nazarene (noon) on Monday.