CU's Bethany Dempster improved to 10-1 on the year for the Cavaliers.
Dempster Picks Up a Pair of Wins as Cavaliers Sweep Beacons
PORTLAND, Ore.—Concordia’s Bethany Dempster earned the win after pitching the final two innings in relief in the opener and followed with a five-inning complete-game win in the nightcap as the Cavaliers swept Northwest Christian (6-5, 13-8) in Cascade Collegiate Conference action at Delta Park on Friday.
With the results, Concordia improved to 27-9 on the year and 14-8 in the CCC while NCU dropped to 12-19 overall and 5-17 in league play.
In the opener, CU held onto a 2-1 lead before the Beacons connected on three straight hits, including a two-run single by Megan Mazanec, to take a 4-2 lead. Corrie Gustafson would add to the lead with a solo home run to right center to lead off the top of the sixth but the Cavs would storm back with four runs in the home half of the inning to regain the lead.
CU posted five hits in the frame including RBI hits from Nicole Illias, Samantha Daline and Shalina Morris.
Dempster retired all three batters she face in the sixth and kept the Beacons from scoring in the seventh despite allowing a pair of singles. With runners on first and third, Dempster snatched a come-backer to the pitcher’s circle and tossed the ball to first to end the threat and the game.
NSU’s Brooke Davis was charged with the loss after allowing 11 hits over six innings. Davis struck out two and walked five in the outing. Both teams accumulated 11 hits.
In the finale, the Beacons once again took an early lead, this time with a solo home run by Cassie Bishop followed by a two-run blast by Davis for a 3-0 lead in the first.
The Cavaliers matched the effort with three runs in the bottom of the second as Morris blasted a solo shot to deep center field and Becca Gawlista sending a pair of runners home on a double to right-center field.
Immediately fighting back, NCU regained the lead with two runs in the third, but would see the advantage disappear in the bottom half of the inning as CU erupted for seven runs on nine hits. The Cavs opened the frame with five straight singles to tie the game and took the lead with a Nicole Illias RBI single through the middle. Kayla Vickaryous, Denise Benedict and Daline all followed with RBI hits to cap the scoring spree.
Vickaryous would return in the fifth with a one-out triple to right field to send Gawlista and Illias home and thus ending the contest 13-5.
Vickaryous led the Cavs with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, helping CU to an 18-13 advantage in hits. Illias and Gawlista each collected three hits in the game.
Gustafson went 3-for-3 in the second game and Brittany Robles went 4-for-6 on the day for NCU.
Dempster struck out four while walking two for her second win of the day. Kalyssa Koontz took the loss for the Beacons, lasting 2.1 innings. Jayde Curry finished the game for NCU, allowing six hits in the final three innings.
Concordia returns to action on May 4 when it travels to Corban College. NCU will face the Warriors tomorrow in Salem, Ore.