CU's Ali Paz finished a combined 5 for 9 against Simpson on Friday.
Simpson Downs Concordia in Pair of Extra-Inning Outings
PORTLAND, Ore.—With both games tied 3-3 through seven innings, Simpson University outscored Concordia 6-1 in a combined four extra frames to sweep a non-conference doubleheader, 6-4, 6-3, at Delta Park on Friday.
With the results, Simpson improved to 12-11 on the year while Concordia fell to 7-5. The opening game loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Concordia which had not played since Feb. 20 due to a series of rain-related cancellations over the past three weeks.
GAME 1
A two-run two-out homer by McKenzie Burroughs in the first game the visiting Red Hawks an early lead, but the Cavaliers battled back with a three-run shot by Amy Aicher in the third which followed back-to-back singles by Alison Gunter and Ali Paz.
A pair of singles, an error and a successful bunt by Nicole Hutchins allowed Simpson to square the game at 3-3 in the fifth as CU starter Renee Santos and SU starter Hayley Rodriguez would eventually go toe-for-toe for 10 full innings.
Santos faced the minimum in both the eighth and the ninth innings but opened the 10th stanza with immediate trouble as the Red Hawks managed a pair of base runners to start the series before junior second baseman Brook Downs launched a 3-run homer to left for the game-winning scores.
The Cavaliers managed a solo run on a Kyndell Andews RBI single in the home half of the inning, but Rodriguez notched a pair of strikeouts before a harmless pop up to second ended any comeback hopes for the Cavs.
Rodriguez allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on15 hits while striking out five for the win. Santos allowed 11 hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out 10 batters in the extra-inning loss. Both teams committed one error.
GAME 2
After allowing a run in the first, Concordia held Simpson scoreless for the next five innings while claiming a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh.
Corrine Alexander quickly halved the deficit with a solo shot to right field and was followed by singles from Brooke Dunn and Morgan Davis which set up an RBI groundout off the bat of Hutchins for the go ahead run with the score 3-2 in favor of the Red Hawks.
Ali Paz and Camy Way led off the bottom of the seventh with consecutive singles and the Cavs would soon load the bases on a fielding error to second which allowed Robin Gawlista to reach safely. With one out showing, Laura Thorp, who hit a solo home run in the sixth, darted a ball to right field to score Paz, but SU’s Davis, now in the pitching circle, garnered two outs from the bottom of the CU lineup to escape the jam.
The Red Hawks would erase any Concordia momentum in the top of the eighth as Simpson tallied five hits, including back-to-back doubles from Davis and Hutchins, to score three runs. Davis would retire the side in the home half of the eight to pick up the win.
Concordia outhit the Hawks 13-12 with Paz, Genskay and Kayla Vickaryuos all recording 3-hit games. Morgan and Hutchins both went 3 of 5 at the plate to pace the Red Hawks.