CU's Denise Benedict went 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI in a doubleheader against Simpson on Tuesday.
Concordia Returns to Action with Simpson Sweep
PORTLAND, Ore.—Playing its first official game in more than 10 days, the Concordia softball team grabbed a pair of wins (4-1, 9-3) in an afternoon doubleheader against Simpson University at Delta Park on Tuesday.
With the results, Concordia improved to 13-1 on the season while Simpson dropped to 19-15 on the year.
Concordia got on the board in the bottom of the first after a lead-off single by Denise Benedict turned into a run with the help of a two-out single through the middle by Janelle Cristofaro.
The Redhawks matched the score with an unearned run via a Corinne Alexander single in the top of the second. The score would remain nodded at 1-1 until Cristofaro returned to the plate in the fifth with a
two-run home run.
The two-run leverage would be all CU starter Danielle Pulfrey would need as the junior hurler would hold Simpson to just one baserunner the rest of the way as Pulfrey would allow just a single hit and a single walk in the complete-game performance.
Pulfrey downed the Redhawks in order on four occasions, including getting Simpson out 1-2-3 in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Benedict and Cristofaro each tallied two-hit games for the Cavs.
In the nightcap, both teams scored a single run in the first before the CU generated three runs in the second to stake a 4-1 lead.
Paige Gomez took a shot over the fence for a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to cut it to a one-run deficit, but the Cavaliers quickly responded with two of their own in the home half of the frame.
The Cavs added three in the fifth as nine batters stepped up to the plate, five of which gathered singles.
Working in relief, Pulfrey pitched a perfect 3.2 innings to close out the game and collect the win. In the two games, Pulfrey fanned 16 batters.
Kayla Vickaryous and Samantha Daline led CU at the plate as each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Daline struck for a two-run homer in the fourth while Vickaryous came around to score on three occasions.
Concordia returns to action when it travels to Southern Oregon to open Cascade Collegiate Conference play in Ashland, Ore., on March 27.