Cavs Go Deep to go 3-0 on Opening Day
BOX SCORES - Menlo I Vanguard I Arizona Christian
REDDING, Calif.—Opening the season at the Simpson University Tournament, one of the biggest collegiate softball tournaments on the West Coast, Concordia University outscored its opponents 30-5 to go a perfect 3-0 on the first day of action.
The Cavaliers connected on eight home runs, including two each by senior catcher Kyndell Andrews, junior first baseman Laura Luther and freshman shortstop Taylor Copher.
“There were only a couple of times where we didn’t score in an inning and the team collectively went out with the attitude of ‘Let’s change that!’”, CU head coach Carrie Kosderka said. “They all want to help contribute to the team and no one wants to settle and that showed as we had quality at bats throughout the entire day.”
In the circle, three different Cavaliers earned wins with McKenzie Marshall, Ashley Suter and Danielle Orvella leading the team to victories.
“The pitchers might actually have been overshadowed today but they only gave up five runs in three games. We are very fortunate to have such a solid staff as we are going to have to rely on all three kids at different times throughout the year,” Kosderka said. “I’m really proud of how McKenzie played on a bum ankle. Danielle had to deal with a ton of adversity and Ashley just had a great outing, three-hitting a very solid Vanguard team.”
Concordia vs. Menlo Recap
Hitting five home runs in the first four innings, the Cavaliers showcased their new-found power with a 10-3 win over Menlo College to open up their 2013 season.
Not hesitating to get on the board, Jennifer Lutton came around to score on a wild pitch after reaching on an infield single in the top of the first. Two batters later and with Kyndell Andrews on first and Taylor Copher on second, Concordia first baseman Laura Luther punched the ball over the center-field fence to give the Cavs a 4-0 lead.
Menlo (4-3) was able to split the difference with a pair of runs in the third with the aid of an error, a walk and back-to-back singles from the bottom of the lineup in Alyssa Holland and Emmeline Wang.
Back on the offensive, Concordia (1-0) plated six runs in the top of the fourth to break the game open.
Luther started the spree with a solo shot to center and was immediately followed by a home run to left-center by Cassidy Horner.
The Cavs received singles by Katie Aden and Mary Lugar to setup a three-run bomb down the right-field line by sophomore Kate Santos. Not to be left out, Copher, a freshman who finished the game 4 for 4 at the plate, drilled a line drive to dead center for her first collegiate home run and the third of the inning for the Cavs.
McKenzie Marshall picked up the win for CU after tossing the first four innings. Marshall allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out four. Danielle Orvella finished the contest with one run on two hits over the final three frames.
Overall, Concordia outhit the Oaks 13 to 4.
Concordia vs. Vanguard Recap
After witnessing a two-homer game by her first baseman in the opener, Concordia catcher Kyndell Andres matched the feat in the team’s second game of the day to lead the Cavaliers to a 6-1 win over Vanguard (Calif.).
With two outs already on the board in the first, Taylor Copher drew a walk before Andrews drove the ball over the left-field fence for a quick 2-0 lead. Andrews would return to leadoff the third inning with a solo shot to the same location to add to the CU advantage.
Laura Luther, fresh off her big game at the plate in the morning contest, continued the barrage in the third by bouncing a double to center and would later score off a Katie Aden single to right. The Cavs failed to tack on additional runs as an unusual double play ended the frame in favor of the Lions. Kate Santos tagged a single to left to score Cassidy Horner, but Robin Gawlista, trailing Horner to the dish, was tagged out from the throw from the outfield.
Immediately, Vanguard catcher Breanne Gomez fired to third to catch Aden attempting to advance another base which halted the attack prematurely.
Vanguard was limited to three hits in the complete game win by senior pitcher Ashley Suter. The Lions’ lone scored came off the bat of first baseman Brittney Boggs with a solo homer to left in the fourth inning.
Suter struck out six en route to her first win of the year. Brittany Colenzo was tagged for the loss after allowing two runs in the first inning. Rachel Stalford took over for the Lions, allowing four runs, three earned, in the final five innings where she struck out six and walked one.
Concordia outhit the Lions 8 to 3 with Andrews going 2 for 2 and Luther 2 for 3 at the plate. Boggs added a seventh-inning single for a two-hit day while Adriana Venezia shot a single to right for the team’s three hits.
Concordia vs. Arizona Christian Recap
Mirroring the first game of the day, the Cavaliers strung together four runs in the first inning en route to claiming a blowout win, this time a 14-1 five-inning affair against Arizona Christian.
After a popout by the leadoff hitter, five Cavaliers registered a hit in the first, including doubles by Jennifer Lutton, Laura Luther and Robin Gawlista to give CU a 4-0 lead before taking the field.
Katie Aden and Taylor Copher returned with RBIs in the second inning as CU extended its lead to 7-0. The very next inning, Kate Santos and Mary Lugar got into the act with singles that later turned into runs.
Arizona Christian crossed the plate once in the second inning as a leadoff walk to Liscum turned into a score following a single, a sacrifice fly and an illegal pitch called on CU starter Danielle Orvella.
The game took a 15-minute delay at the start of the fourth inning as a protest from the ACU coach regarding the distance of the pitching circle needed to be settled.
After confirmation, the Cavs took to the plate and stacked four additional runs on the board. Three of the runs came off a single swing from Copher as the freshman shortstop drilled a ball over the centerfield fence for the second consecutive game.
The Cavs finished with 15 hits with 10 different players safely reaching at least once. Copher and Lugar each went 3 for 4 at the plate with Copher tallying five RBI in the process.
Orvella went on to pitch the complete game for the Cavs. The junior transfer from Bellevue College allowed just one run on six hits while striking out three batters.