CU's Samantha Daline went 5-for-8 against the Owls on Sunday.
Daline Sparks Cavaliers in Oregon Tech Tilt
PORTLAND, Ore.—Unable to get past a four-run disadvantage in the opener, Concordia defeated Oregon Tech 7-4 in the second game of a Cascade Collegiate Conference doubleheader to split with the Owls (4-6, 7-4) at Delta Park on Sunday.
Making up the contests from a Friday rainout, Sunday’s action began with OIT spotted a four-run lead. Sunceray Titus belted a two-run homer and Jenny Austin clubbed a two-run double before a rainstorm postponed the opener on Friday.
Concordia (23-7, 10-6 CCC) picked up with one out and runners on second and third in the bottom half of the first but Oregon Tech (17-16, 7-9 CCC) ace Becca Anderson got out of the early trouble with back-to-back fly balls to center field.
Anderson also got out of jams in the third, fourth and the fifth as CU managed runners in scoring position in each frame. In the fourth, the Cavs had runners on first and third with one out but a groundout to the pitcher followed by a swinging strikeout ended the inning in a scoreless manner while three singles in the fifth yielded just a single run in the fifth.
The Owls added to their lead in the top of the sixth with a pair of scores to make it a 6-1 game. The buffer would prove to be necessary to preserve the win as Concordia mustered three runs in the bottom of the seventh before bowing out to the two-run loss.
Kayla Vickaryous and Denise Benedict posted consecutive singles to set up a Janelle Cristofaro RBI shot to right field. Tina Garcia followed with a two-run, two-out double to put the tying run at the plate.
Anderson would end the suspense in the next at bat by getting a harmless pop up to shortstop to pick up the win.
Concordia outhit OIT 10-6 in the game and left 10 runners on base. After allowing three hits in the first inning on Friday, Pulfrey returned to the mound to allow just three additional hits over the next six innings but would wind up with the loss. Pulfrey struck out seven while being charged with six runs (three earned).
In the second game of the series, a pair of extra-base hits gave the Cavaliers all the offense they would need en route to the 7-4 win.
Robin Gawlista smashed a double to left to score Cristofaro and Shalina Morris in the second while a bases-loaded double off the bat of Samantha Daline cleared the bags in the sixth. Garcia also recorded a two RBI hit with a right-field single in the third to score Benedict and Daline.
The Owls were held to a single run until sending nine batters to the plate in the seventh. Facing their final out, OIT scored three runs with two singles and a walk with the bases loaded.
Bethany Dempster went 6.2 innings for her seventh win of the year. Amber Knight was tagged with the loss after lasting 4.0 innings.
Concordia tallied 15 hits to nine for OIT. Daline led the charge with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in three while scoring one. Morris also posted a three-hit day for the Cavs.