Concordia's Danielle Pulfrey allowed just six hits while striking out 20 in two wins against The College of Idaho on Saturday.
Pulfrey Notches 20 Strikeouts in Doubleheader Sweep of Yotes
PORTLAND, Ore. – After striking out 10 batters in the opener, Danielle Pulfrey duplicated the feat in the nightcap to guide the Concordia softball squad to a Cascade Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep of The College of Idaho on Saturday.
With the wins, CU improved to 15-10 on the season and 10-4 in CCC play. The Yotes dropped to 15-16 overall and 6-10 in league action. Through Saturday’s results, Oregon Tech holds a two-game lead over the Cavaliers in the conference standings with a 12-2 mark in the CCC.
In the opener, Donnae Carrell (Caldwell, Idaho/Middleton H.S.) led off the first with a two-strike home run over the left-field fence to give the Yotes a quick 1-0 lead. After having their next six batters retired in order, the Yotes struck again with a solo shot by Sammy Dodge (Mountain Home, Idaho/Mountain Home H.S.) in the third.
The Cavs would respond with a single run in the bottom of the inning with the aid of an error and an RBI fielder’s choice knock to the shortstop by Rebekah Wirkkala (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen H.S.).
In the next stanza, a lead-off walk by Shayna Ostlund (Graham, Wash./Auburn Riverside H.S.) turned into a game-tying run after a single by Kari Mabe (Toledo, Ore./Toledo H.S.) and a sacrifice fly by Denise Benedict (Ridgefield, Wash./Prairie H.S.).
With CU starter Pulfrey (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro H.S.) retiring the side in order in the final three innings, a stretch that included five strikeouts, the Cavs seized the opportunity in the seventh to complete the comeback win.
Benedict got the inning started with a single to left field. Casey Middagh (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam HS.) followed with a successful sacrifice bunt to move Middagh to second. The small-ball strategy quickly paid off as a Wirkkala single through the middle brought the runner home from second for the walk-off win.
Pulfrey grabbed the win after allowing just three hits in seven innings of work. Katie Zillner took the loss for the Yotes.
In the nightcap, Janelle Cristofaro (Central Point, Ore./Crater H.S.) struck for two RBI’s in the second with a single to left field to give Concordia a 2-0 advantage.
The scores would be all home team would need as Pulfrey returned to the mound for her second 10 strikeout and three-hit complete game of the day. The second seven innings even more efficient as the sophomore hurler faced just three over the minimum.
The Cavs would get two runs in the fourth and the fifth innings and as ingle score in the sixth to take the healthy 7-0 lead.
In all Pulfrey recorded a line of 14 innings and 20 strikeouts while allowing just two runs and one walk.
At the plate, Middagh, Samantha Daline (Portland, Ore./Grant H.S.) and Nicole Illias (Beaverton, Ore./Valley Catholic) each tallied two-hit games.
Concordia returns to action on April 18 when it travels to conference leader Oregon Tech. The College of Idaho will host the University of Great Falls in non-conference action on April 15.