Concordia Softball Rallies to Split Doubleheader with APU

Recap, photo courtesy of Concordia

The Eagles were on the road Wednesday night, taking on the Azusa Pacific Cougars.  After a frustrating first game, the Eagles bounced back to take the second game in dramatic fashion.

GAME ONE: Through the first two innings of game one of the doubleheader, neither team was able to get on the board.  Despite APU's poor record for the season, their offense has had moments of brilliance throughout the year.  Just one week ago, they scored 21 runs in a single game against Dixie State.  With Callie Nunes on the mound, however, seeing zero on the scoreboard came as no surprise.

In the 3rd inning, APU was able to break through and get on the board first.  Amanda Woods scored the first run of the game, brought in on a Cayla Broussard bunt single.  

The score remained 1-0 APU until the top of the sixth inning.  With two outs, the Eagles rallied.  After a Ryann Ferguson walk, Amanda Gjertsen came in to pinch run, and Kailey Palazzolo doubled to left field to bring her in and tie the score.

The lead didn't last, however.  In the bottom of the 6th, APU had a two out rally of their own.  Kayla Jimenez knocked in the go-ahead run to put the Cougars up 2-1.  Concordia would go down in order in the top of the 7th on three pop ups.  The loss was credited to Nunes, just her third of the year to go with 12 wins.  It was the first game of her career in which she gave up at least two earned runs.

Eagle Eye: McKinsey Thorpe finished one-for-two at the plate.  Palazzolo and Kretschmar each finished one-for-three.  Nunes pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs and striking out seven.

GAME TWO: After falling behind early, the Eagles continued to put together solid at bats, Grayson Harvey began to put up "0's", and the results finally showed.
The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three innings, scoring one run in each of the first three frames and shutting down the Eagles.

In the 4th and the 5th, both teams went scoreless and it looked like the Eagles were headed towards a frustrating day on the road.  In the 6th, they were finally able to light up the scoreboard and flip the script.  Palazzolo singled, Ferguson singled, Michelle Lieng singled, Kretschmar was hit by a pitch, and Kaylee Dalgarn walked with the bases loaded.  When the inning came to a close, the Eagles had three runs and the game was suddenly tied.

After shutting down CPU in the bottom of the 6th, the Eagles finished the comeback in the 7th.  After a Ferguson single, Eilefson went deep, hitting a two run home run and giving the Eagles a 5-3 lead.  They would add another on a Kretschmar RBI single that plated Lauren Lopez.  

Harvey then shut down APU in order in the bottom of the 7th to finish off her complete game performance. 

Eagle Eye: Ferguson finished two-for-three with two runs scored, Eilefson finished two-for-four with two RBI's.  Harvey struck out seven, giving up just three hits and two earned runs in seven innings.  

What's Next: CUI comes home for the weekend, taking on Biola University at 12 PM and 2 PM on Saturday at Eagles Field.