Concordia splits doubleheader with Peru State
Concordia University split a pair of softball games at Peru State on Wednesday. The Bulldogs took game one 1-0, and Peru State responded with a 3-2 win in game two. Concordia moved to 13-7 on the year.
In game one, Concordia scored the only run of the game in the top of the first inning. Nicole Baker (Arvada, Colo.) reached base to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI double by Clarissa Eloge (Rising City, Neb.).
The one run proved to be enough, as Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.) shut the Peru State offense down. The junior pitcher improved to 7-2 with the win on the mound. She worked all seven innings and allowed just three hits with three strikeouts to earn her third shutout of the season.
Peru State took an early lead and held off a late Concordia rally to pick up the win in game two. The Bobcats scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Kristen Bodyk delivered an RBI triple, and an RBI groundout by Ashley Wohlers put Peru State on top 2-0.
PSC added a single run in the third to grab a 3-0 lead. Bodyk doubled and scored on a Concordia error.
Concordia got on the board with a run in the sixth inning. Baker led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Eloge delivered an RBI triple to pull the Bulldogs within two at 3-1.
Concordia’s rally in the top of the seventh fell just short. Alyssa Bauwens (Perryville, Mo.) led off the inning with a walk. A groundout moved Sempek (pinch runner) to second, and a single by Angela Harstad (Lewiston, Minn.) put runners at first and third. A wild pitch put runners at second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly by Amber Topil (Seward, Neb.) drove in Sempek to cut the lead to one. However, Baker popped out to end the game.
Both teams finished with six hits in the contest. Eloge was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI, and Harstad added two hits for the Bulldogs. Amanda Beeson (3-3) suffered the loss on the mound. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Concordia hosts Kansas Wesleyan on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Plum Creek Park.