Concordia moves to 4-4 with split at spring break tournament
Concordia split two softball games in Arizona on Wednesday. The Bulldogs lost 7-2 to Purdue University – North Central but responded with a 3-0 win over Division II Rockhurst University in the second game of the day. Concordia is now 4-4 on the year.
In game one, Purdue University – North Central took advantage of some Concordia mistakes and used a solid pitching performance from freshman Lanay Parks to pick up the win.
The Panthers struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Jessica Morgan had an RBI double, and Lindsay Gernenz added an RBI single in the inning for Purdue North Central.
Concordia tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. Concordia didn’t have a hit in the first three innings but totaled four hits in the top of the fourth. Clarissa Eloge (Rising City, Neb.), Nicole Mapes (Greeley, Colo.) and Mikaela Klein (Grand Island, Neb.) all singled to load the bases with one out. A fielder’s choice by Alyssa Bauwens (Perryville, Mo.) scored the first run of the inning. With two outs in the inning, Amanda Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) delivered an RBI single to score Shelby Morose (Claremore, Okla.). Bauwens was thrown out at the plate on the play.
The Panthers quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Following two quick outs, Brittani Cain struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Following a stolen base and a walk to Sam Gross, Megan Olson singled to center field. The ball got past Bulldog outfielder Natalie Svoboda (Lincoln, Neb.), and both Cain and Gross scored on the play.
The Bulldogs were unable to score in the top of the fifth, and the Panthers pulled away with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kayla Bauer delivered a 3-run homer to give Purdue – North Central a 7-2 advantage. Concordia managed just one hit in the final two innings of play.
Purdue – North Central totaled nine hits in the game compared to just six for Concordia. Jessica Morgan was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI and Bauer drove in three for the Panthers. Lanay Parks pitched all seven innings and struck out eight.
Nobody had more than one hit for the Bulldogs. Bauwens and Beeson each drove in a run. Beeson (1-2) suffered the loss on the mound. She allowed the seven runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
In game two of the day, Concordia jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Rockhurst in the bottom of the first inning. Baker singled and Eloge walked, and both runners advanced a base on a passed ball. Morose followed with an RBI single to score Baker. Eloge tried to score but was thrown out on the play.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Beeson singled and advanced to second on an error. Morose then delivered an RBI double to score pinch runner Kelsey Timmerman (O’Neill, Neb.) from second. Later in the inning, Amber Topil (Seward, Neb.) delivered a clutch RBI single to score Morose and give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.
Rockhurst had a mild threat in the top of the fifth. The Hawks put two runners on with just one out. However, Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.) struck out Sadie Applegate and Debbie Lewis to end the inning. Sempek cruised through the final two innings, and Concordia secured the 3-0 win.
Concordia finished with six hits in the game. Baker and Morose each had two, and Morose drove in a pair to lead the way for the Bulldogs. Sempek (2-1) went the distance on the mound and allowed just two hits with seven strikeouts to pick up her second win of the season.
Megan Holm allowed three runs with one walk and seven strikeouts for Rockhurst.
Concordia faces Iowa Wesleyan and Park University on Thursday to conclude play in the Spring Break Tournament.