The concordia softball team dropped a pair to the ncaa division iii top-ranked team university of st. Thomas 4-2, 9-4 monday afternoon. The bears fall to 33-13 on the season and are 10-2 in the nsic.

the bears scored the first run of the game as leadoff hitter tracie enzler walked and advanced to second on a bunt single by vanessa dufresne (right). She would score on a hit by kristin linell. amanda yurek, who reached on a fielder's choice, was thrown out at home to end the first inning and the concordia threat.

st. Thomas would score all four runs in the fifth inning as pitcher maria bye would hit a three-run home run to left field after fouling off five pitches in the at-bat.

the bears would score one run in the seventh inning when nikki smith reached third on an error by the centerfielder and would score on a single by kelly schwietz.

kristen schmidt took the loss giving up four earned runs on a three-hitter with six strikeouts. She had four walks and hit a batter. The bears were held to five hits, by five different batters.

in game two, the tommies scored two runs in the first inning, but the bears responded with three runs in the second inning to take the lead. Schmidt, smith and natalie mast all had singles and scored in the inning.

st. Thomas scored four in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth for the win. Concordia scored its fourth run on a double by enzler and would score on a fielder's choice by schmidt.

the bears had ten hits in the game, two by smith and dufresne. Enzler and yurek each had a double in the game. mandy turba took the loss, allowing nine runs, six earned, with five strikeouts. The concordia defense committed a season-high six errors in the game.

the bears will play nsic-leader southwest minnesota state on wednesday, april, 26 at dunning field. The games are slated to begin at 3:30.