Tina Garcia's grand slam sparked a seven-run fifth for Concordia in the opener against Oregon Tech.
Garcia Slam, Middagh Mash Secure Cavalier Rallies
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Concordia University softball team trailed in the six inning in both ends of a conference doubleheader, but managed to sweep the series with late rallies against Oregon Tech on Monday.
After trailing 6-0, the Cavs placed seven runs on the board in the sixth to defeat OIT 8-7 in the opener and used a walk-off single by Casey Middagh (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam H.S.) to down the Owls 3-2 in the nightcap.
With the results, Concordia upped its overall record to 16-10 while Oregon Tech dropped to 18-8 on the year. The Owls entered the day with an unblemished 6-0 mark in Cascade Collegiate Conference action, but both teams left the field with 6-2 in league contests.
Sunceray Titus (Salem, Ore./McNary H.S.) opened up the visiting half of the third inning with a solo home run to left field to open the game’s scoring. Taking a cue from the Owl leadoff hitter, the next four batters reached base as OIT surged for a five-run inning capped by a two-run single through the middle by Chelsea McNeil (Seattle, Wash./ John F. Kennedy), who ended the inning after being thrown out trying to stretch the knock into a double.
Aided by a lead-off double by starting pitcher Jennie Bittle (Central Point, Ore./Crater H.S.), the Owls would add a run in the fifth to take a 6-0 lead.
On the mound, Bittle shut down the Cavs by allowing just three hits and a walk through four, but Concordia would finally get to the senior ace with 10 at-bats in the fifth.
With one out, catcher Nicole Illias (Beaverton, Ore./Valley Catholic) started the rally with a double, while an error and three straight walks with two outs gave the Cavs its first three runs of the game. Capping the inning, Tina Garcia’s (Concord, Calif./Concord, Calif.) first home run of the season came at the most opportune time as the bases-loaded smash provided the Cavs its first lead of the game with the score 7-6.
The lead would not last long as the Owls generated a solo run in the top of the sixth via three singles to square the game at 7-7.
In the bottom half of the inning, Illias recaptured the lead for the home squad with one swing with the junior’s team-leading third home run of the season.
CU starter Danielle Pulfrey (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro H.S.) struck out 11, including two in the ninth, en route to the win after pitching seven innings. Bittle took the loss for OIT after yielding seven hits and eight runs, seven of which were unearned.
Keeping the dramatic theme in the second game, Middagh singled in Illias in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion to boost CU to the 3-2 victory.
After five innings of scoreless ball, Oregon Tech struck first with an RBI single by Brittany Warren (Longview, Wash./Mark Morris H.S.) in the sixth.
Concordia responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by Rebekah Wirkkala (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen H.S.) and a run-inducing fielder’s choice by Shayna Ostlund (Graham, Wash./Auburn Riverside) after OIT starter Keri Gesner (Orting, Wash./Orting H.S.) walked the bases loaded.
In a repeat of the opening game, the Owls wouldn’t hesitate to even the score in the seventh with a pair of singles which led to a run scored by Andria Wheatley (Springfield, Ore./Thurston H.S.).
Just before it appeared Gesner would send the game into extra sessions after retiring the first two batters, the Cavs connected on three straight singles with the final hit by Middagh allowing Illias to beat a play at the plate for the game-winner.
Pulfrey nabbed her second win of the day to improve to 9-6 on the year after seven innings of work. Pulfrey allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out two batters. Gesner was credited with 6 2/3 innings and was charged with three runs and seven hits while striking out three Cavaliers.
Concordia returns to action on April 3 when it travels to Corban College for a CCC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Salem, Ore.