GAME 1 BOX GAME 2 BOX
CALDWELL, Idaho – The Concordia University softball team swept Eastern Oregon University Saturday on The College of Idaho campus.
In Game 1, Concordia (12-12, 3-1 Cascade Collegiate Conference) became the first opponent to score in the first inning against the Mountaineers this season. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 5-0 advantage with five runs in the top of the first inning.
Mary Lugar and Tobey Varney both went 3-of-4 at the plate for CU. Lugar had four RBI and scored twice. Ashley Suter recorded the victory on the mound. She allowed seven hits and two earned runs in six innings. Suter struck out seven Mountaineers, and walked two.
Laura Luther doubled to right center field, bringing in a pair of runs. She would later score in the inning after the Mountaineers walked her in with the bases loaded. Lugar drove in two runs with a single down the left field line.
The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning when Concordia stretched its lead to 7-0. Lugar struck again with a home run over the left center field wall, bringing in Jordyn Brown.
Eastern scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lacey Price hit her second double of the game with shot to left field bringing in Sarah Jackson. Mariebeth Watanabe then brought in Price with a single to center field, making the score 7-2.
The Cavaliers answered in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs. Lugar scored off of a Mountaineer error, and then Jennifer Lutton crossed home plate after a Kyndell Andrews single to center field.
In the bottom half of the final inning, Cassie Wendt grounded out to Concordia’s shortstop, but drove in Emily Anderson in the process. Kayla Anderson was credited with the loss, allowing 13 hits and six earned runs in the complete game performance. She struck out two batters and walked four. Anderson threw 148 pitches, 98 were strikes.
Eastern committed five errors in the loss, while CU had two. Concordia left 10 runners on base, and EOU stranded nine.
The Mountaineers (5-7, 1-3) scored first in the second game, but it was CU that pulled away late. Lugar continued her success at the plate going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Sam Genskay and Lutton both had a pair of RBI as well.
Brown picked up her fourth victory of the season. In 2.2 innings of work, she allowed three hits and one earned run. Brown struck out four batters and walked two. Suter recorded a save, striking out five Mountaineers in three innings.
Anderson opened the scoring for EOU, crossing home plate after a throwing error by the Cavaliers. Concordia responded in the top of the second when Breanne Larkin scored off of a Lugar single to center field. Lutton doubled to left center field, bringing in Lugar and Brown.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Mountaineers answered with three runs. Anderson drove in Sydney Carpenter off of a single to left field. Anderson and Suzie Espinoza would then score off of a Jackson single to center field.
The Cavaliers broke out to a 7-4 lead with a four-run fourth-inning. Lugar picked up a pair of RBI with a single to right field, driving in Varney and Kate Santos. Genskay then had a two-RBI single of her own with a hit up the middle. Lugar and Brown each scored on the single. CU picked up five of its seven hits in the inning.
Eastern would score two runs over the next two innings, cutting the lead to 7-6, the final margin. Anderson homered over the center field wall to open the bottom of the fourth inning, and brought in Price with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth.
Alex Hillmick threw a complete game, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. The freshman had two strikeouts, and threw 95 pitches, 60 were strikes.
Concordia committed four errors, while Eastern had three. The Mountaineers left nine runners on base, and CU left five.
The Cavaliers host Southern Oregon Monday for their next doubleheader, and EOU stays in Caldwell to play The College of Idaho Sunday at 11 a.m. MT.