Four Runs in the Fifth Boost Cavs Over Holy Names
CALDWELL, Idaho – Holding a 1-0 lead, Concordia plated four runners in the fifth inning to defeat Holy Names University 5-0 in softball action at The College of Idaho Classic.
With the win, Concordia improved to 4-4 on the year while HNU dropped to 7-17.
Opening the game with a double, junior catcher Nicole Illias (Beaverton, Ore./Valley Catholic) put the Cavaliers on the board after crossing the plate following a Rebekah Wirkkala (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen H.S.) single to right center.
The run would prove to be the lone score the Cavs would need as CU ace Danielle Pulfrey (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro H.S.) would shut down the Hawk offense with 13 strikeouts. Pulfrey struck out the first four batter of the game and would go on to allow only three hits.
Holy Names threatened in the third and the fifth innings with runners advancing to third base. In the third, Hawk pitcher Elise Foster struck out swinging with the bases loaded and in the fifth Pulfrey induced a groundout to shortstop to escape any damage.
The Cavs received a pair of two-run hits in the fifth to break open the contest. After Illias’ second double of the day, a walk to Denise Benedict (Ridgefield, Wash./Prairie H.S.) and a sacrifice by Casey Middagh (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam H.S.), Tina Garcia (Concord, Calif./Concord H.S.) struck for a two-run double to left center. Two batters later, designated hitter Samantha Daline (Portland, Ore./Grant H.S.) popped a single to center field to score Middagh, who reached via an error, and Garcia to give the Cavs a 5-0 lead.
The two teams will square off again on Sunday to complete the tournament.