Walk-Off Slam Completes Cavalier Comeback
BOX SCORE
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Trailing for the entire game, the Concordia softball team capped the first game of the three-day Northwest Cup with a walk-off grand slam by Ali Paz for a 7-4 win over British Columbia in the team’s season opener on Friday at Hood View Park.
In the lone tournament game of the day, the Cavaliers trailed 4-1 through five innings before cutting the deficit to a single run with a pair of scores in the bottom of the sixth. Paz led off the frame by reaching via an error in the outfield and would later come around to score on a single to left by Kyndell Andrews. Tina Garcia followed by driving in Cameron Way to make it a 4-3 contest.
After CU Renee Santos struck out the side in the top of the seventh, the Cavaleirs began its rally with a single to right-center by Courtney Wooden. The runner was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Ashlie Alison. Kayla Vickaryous, who went 3-for-4 on the day, connected on an infield single and Mallory Callahan replicated the feat with a single to right to load the bases for Paz who successfully swung for the fences with the team’s first home run of the season.
The Cavaliers totaled 11 hits in the game compared to six for the Thunderbirds. Paz picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings of work, striking out seven batters in her 10 total outs recorded.
Kelsey Andison took the loss after allowing all seven runs, six of which were earned. Andison notched three strikeouts against a single walk.
At the plate, UBC was led by Jessica Barclay who went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI as the team’s leadoff hitter. The Thunderbirds scored a single run in the third via an RBI single by Tanya McLean and three runs in the fourth after registering three hits and a walk.
The 10-team tournament continues with nine games on Saturday and nine on Sunday.