Cavs Split against NCAA DII Western Oregon
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—After giving up seventh-inning leads in both contests, Concordia managed to split a doubleheader against NCAA DII Western Oregon in non-conference softball action on Tuesday afternoon.
With the results, Concordia moved to 6-8 on the season while Western Oregon, members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, ended eth day at 7-10.
The Cavaliers will resume action on March 12 they host anther member of the GNAC in St. Martin's University. Opening pitch for the doubleheader against the Saints is set for 2 at Delta Park.
Game 1 – Western Oregon 4, Concordia 2
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Western Oregon strung together three runs in its final at bat to stun Concordia 4-2 in the opening game at Hood View Park.
WOU's Danielle Hannan opened the seventh by reaching on an infield error. Melanie Pfieffer and Kelsie Gardner followed with singles before the Cavs got the first out of the inning with a lined shot to shortstop
Taylor Copher (Sandy, Ore./Sandy H.S.).
Still down one after Hannan scored on Gardner's single to center, Raina Reece provided the go-ahead shot with a 2-RBI single down the left-field line.
From there CU starter,
Danielle Orvella (Seattle, Wash./Kentridge H.S.) didn't let the ball leave the infield as a pop up to a catch and a grounder to third ended the frame.
The Cavs threatened in the home half of the seventh as
McKenzie Marshall (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City H.S.) and
Rielly Byrd (Puyallup, Wash./Franklin Pierce H.S.) connected on back-to-back one-out singles. After a grounder back to the pitcher for the second out,
Katie Aden (Tigard, Ore./Tigard H.S.) drew a walk to load the bases for catcher
Kate Santos (Gladstone, Ore./Gladstone H.S.).
Down to its final out, Santos drilled an Eryka Brill 1-0 pitch to shortstop, where Pfieffer snagged before sailing into the outfield for what would have easily produced the winning score.
WOU outhit Concordia 9-to-7 with Gardner going 3-for-4 at the plate. Brill improved to 3-1 on the season after striking out two and walking two in the complete game performance.
Game 2- Concordia 4, Western Oregon 3
Playing in its first extra-inning game of the year, Concordia used a wild pitch by Kelli Demianew with the bases loaded to win 4-3 in walk-off fashion against WOU in the second game of the doubleheader out at Hood View Park.
Using international tiebreaker rules in extra innings which places a runner at second base to lead off each stanza, Concordia quickly loaded the bases in the eighth inning.
Taylor Copher (Sandy, Ore./Sandy H.S.) led off the rally by reaching on a fielder's choice while laying down a successful sacrifice bunt. With
Katie Aden (Tigard, Ore./Tigard H.S.) reaching third safely, the Wolves intentionally walked
Cassidy Horner (Cottonwood, Calif./West Valley H.S.) to fill the bases, where the tactic immediately backfired as a wild pitch to
Taylor Bussey (Vancouver, Wash./Prairie H.S.) allowed Aden to scamper home for the game-winning run.
Western Oregon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first with Raina Reece and Bridjet Box registering RBI in their at bats.
Concordia scored an unearned run in the third and took the lead in the fourth with
Meghan Luebbert (Sandy, Ore./Sandy H.S.) driving the go-ahead run in on a single up the middle.
The Wolves forced extra innings with three singles in the top of the seventh which generated one run off CU starter
McKenzie Marshall (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City H.S.).
Marshall struckout six batters and walked just one to improve to 3-1 on the season.