The fifth-ranked concordia softball team (27-30) scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-4 lead over top-seed sw minnesota state (34-11) in the second round of the nsic tournament in marshall. The bears gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to fall 6-5.
the mustangs got on the board first, scoring three runs (one earned) in the bottom of the third inning off of
mandy turba (16-18). They added one more in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning.
the bears finally scored in the sixth inning, after leaving runners in scoring position in four of the first five innings.
amanda yurek led off the sixth inning with the third triple of the game for the bears. She would score on a single through the right side by
mallory olson, cutting the smsu lead to 4-1
nicole tischler led off the seventh inning with a single and advanced to second on a error by the mustangs, allowing
anna bjorlin to reach on a fielders choice. Both tischler and bjorlin advanced a base (second and third) on another mustang error.
melissa bergdall grounded out to the shortstop, but tischler scored on the play. After yurek was intentionally walked two outs, the bears got back-to-back-to-back rbi singles by
abby brundidge, olson and
tiffany rodd to take a 5-4 lead.
turba was unable to hold the lead as she walked the first mustang batter and then allowed three straight singles and the game ended with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. She allowed six runs (four earned) on ten hits with four concordia errors.
the bears finished with five runs on ten hits of nsic pitcher of the year amanda johnson (23-5). Olson finished 4-4 with a triple and two rbi. Bjorlin was 2-4 with a double, triple and scored a run.
concordia falls into the playback bracket and will face wayne state saturday morning at 10:00.
sw minnesota state 6, cu 5
