bismarck, n.d. - the golden bear softball team drew up two wins over the university of mary (10-29, 4-10 nsic) on a windy sunday afternoon to bring their current winning streak to 11 games. Concordia is now 31-15 on the year and 13-3 in the nsic after taking 8-7 and 15-5 wins over the marauders. anna bjorlin had another red hot day at the plate, going 7-for-9 overall and setting a new concordia single game record with five hits in the second game.
bjorlin put up a perfect 5-for-5 batting performance in the second game of the afternoon, dumping out four singles to go with a three-run homer. Her unstoppable play at the plate this week moved her up as the team's season batting leader with a .383 average and 32 runs scored.
stephanie schmikla was also a player of note in the doubleheader, throwing both complete game wins and holding the marauders at bay for her 16th and 17th wins, the most wins by a concordia pitcher since 2006.
the golden bears came out with seven early runs in the first four innings against the marauders, using a set of rbi triples from jamie lindboe and abby brundidge to go up 7-0. The marauders, who had threatened to score in each of the first three innings, answered with big innings in the fourth and fifth, putting up a five spot in the fifth to tie the game at 7-7. With the winds whipping toward the outfield, the marauders pegged three long balls in the fifth.
concordia received a huge lift from senior natalie mast in the top of the seventh inning to avoid going into extra play. Mast stepped up to lead off the seventh frame and gave the golden bears a go-ahead and ultimately game-winning home run, her first long shot of the season.
stephanie schmikla threw a solid final inning to preserve the win, allowing a base hit before putting up three straight outs.
it was a season high scoring effort for the golden bears in the second game with 15 runs coming from 20 hits. anna bjorlin set a new concordia single game record with five hits (5-5) in the game, four singles and a three-run home run, her first long ball of the year. She put up six rbi for the second time in her career in leading the cu effort.
bjorlin was joined by natalie mast with a perfect game at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a set of walks. katie anderson was 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles and two stolen bases, while tiff rodd went 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored.
concordia sent ten players to the dish in a five-run second inning with six hits, including bjorlin's three-run homer and doubles from abby brundidge and nikki scherr. An even bigger inning came in the sixth as six more runs were put up, also due to six hits. The golden bears hit three doubles and a triple in the frame. Brundidge's second double of the game drove in the team's final two runs, setting her game's rbi mark at three.
stephanie schmikla threw another complete game win, allowing the marauders to score in only three innings. She won her season's 17th game and currently has a 17-8 record. This ties her for the sixth best single season win mark at concordia (2000-present).
