Saints Hold on for CU Sweep
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Box Score 2
LACEY, Wash.—Taking early leads in both games, St. Martin’s delivered a 6-4, 5-4 sweep against the visiting Cavaliers to extend Concordia’s season-high skid to five games on Friday.
Concordia, coming off of playing four games in two days in Canada, fell to 25-14 on the season. St. Martin’s, ranked tenth in the most recent NCAA DII West Region poll, improved to 19-9 on the season.
Concordia, ranked No. 24 in the NAIA, will now return its attention to the second half of the Cascade Collegiate Conference season. The Cavaliers will travel to face No. 10-ranked Corban University on Friday, April before squaring off for a second doubleheader at Northwest Christian University on the following day.
Game 1 Recap – St. Martin’s 6, Concordia 4
The Saints scored two runs in their first at bat and added a single run in the third to put early pressure on the Cavaliers. SMC opened the first inning with three straight hits, including an RBI double by Madi Davis, for the early advantage.
Concordia managed to pull within a run with two scored in the fifth as Katie Aden smacked a two-out triple to center to plate teammates Mary Lugar and Robin Gawlista.
Not deterred, Christina DeMar single handedly put distance on the visiting side in the bottom of the frame with a 3-run homer to left-center for a 5-2 spread.
Starting off the sixth, the first three Cavs reached base via a walk, a single through the middle and an error at second which scored CU’s initial third run of the game. After the first out was recorded, Caitlyn Frasier connected on a single to third to load the bases where Rielly Byrd sent a ball deep enough into left field to score the second run of the inning.
Now with two outs and the tying run on base, SMC starter Sam Munger produced a groundout to second to end the rally.
The Cavs looked to continue to chip into the lead as Kate Santos drew a one-out walk, but the momentum would immediately be stifled as Munger forced freshman Taylor Copher into a double play grounder to third, Copher’s first double play in over 125 at bats this season, to preserve the win.
Despite failing to notch a single strikeout, Munger completed the win after allowing three walks and seven walks, while being tagged with four runs, two of which were unearned.
Game 2 Recap – St. Martin’s 5, Concordia 4
Laura Luther gave the Cavaliers its first lead of the day with a 2-run homer to right, her sixth round-tripper of the year, but the Saints responded with a 4-spot in the bottom of the second on their way to the 5-4 win.
The Cavs tied the game at 4-4 in the third with an RBI single from Kate Santos and later a run-producing fielder’s choice off the bat of Kyndell Andrews.
The retaliation sent Saints to turn to reliever Kaylee Lawson who went on to scatter three hits over the final five frames to pick up her first win of the year.
A leadoff double to start the bottom of the fourth turned into the game-winning run for SMC. Aubree Pocklington lined a ball down the left-field line to get into scoring position while a single from Megan Miller, batting ninth in the order, moved the runner to third.
The advancement proved pivotal as Lacey McGladrey, the SMC second baseman, launched a sacrifice fly to center for a 5-4 lead.
Santos retuned to the basepaths with a one-out single in the fith but was eliminated on a fielder’s choice while Mary Lugar opened the sixth with a single to left, but the Cavs couldn’t capitalize as three straight grounders kept CU at bay.
Lawson sent the Cavs down in order to complete the win.
St. Martin’s outhit Concordia 10 to 8 with Davis, Pocklington and Miller finishing with two hits each. Santos and Luther followed suit with two hits for the Cavaliers.