fayette, iowa - multi-run innings gave the golden bear softball team (26-8, 14-2 nsic) the upper hand against upper iowa (13-15, 8-10 nsic) on wednesday afternoon. Concordia defeated the peacocks 6-5 in game 1 with a spattering of unearned runs and put up three quick unearned runs before posting a final 5-1 win in the second game. Cu has put together an 11-game winning streak, matching the second longest streak in the team's ncaa era of competition. game 1 box - game 2 box
errors riddled the peacocks on the afternoon of nsic play, the squad making three errors in each game. The mistakes led to eight unearned runs out of concordia's 11 runs scored.
game 2
tiff rodd was responsible for concordia's only earned run in cu's 6-5 game 1 win, directing a home run to left center field in the second inning. The golden bears opened up the scoring in the fourth inning with the help of two peacock errors, scoring three unearned runs with two hits in the fourth to lead 4-1.
both squads put up two runs in the fifth inning, the golden bears taking both unearned but katie anderson picking up a two-rbi double. Upper iowa began to get in a groove against starter ashley kluever, their runs coming after three hits, including two doubles, and a walk. The score tightened up at 6-3, kluever gave the ball up to stephanie schmikla for the last 1.2 innings of play. The peacocks saw moderate success against schmikla but the junior hung on for the save in the 6-5 decision.
three golden bears had two hits in the game 1 win. Senior abby brundidge extended her hitting streak to a team season high 13 games with a duo of singles. Kluever took the win in the game to improve to 9-2 on the year.
game 2
stephanie mcmahon gave up just one run and struck out four batters before taking a 5-1 win in the late game. It took the peacocks until the third inning to get their first hit, a single, which was later followed by a big triple to right center to score uiu's only run of the game.
the golden bears had already put three runs on the board, however, thanks to the peacock's fielding troubles in the first inning. Tiff rodd launched another home run over the fence for bangers in back-to-back games, the swing giving cu the 3-0 first inning lead. The senior has seven home runs on the year. She followed up the big swing with a fifth inning triple. Rodd is leading the golden bears with a .471 batting average in nsic play and has a cumulative .381 average on the year.
concordia added runs in the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead. katie anderson and calli brennan started the fifth off with consecutive hits, anderson swiping second for her season's 21st steal before brennan knocked her in with a double.
although the peacocks out-hit the golden bears 7-6 in the game, the golden bear defense fended away the uiu attack and allowed the single run. Mcmahon improved to 7-0 on the season.
the golden bears return to carlander field this weekend where they host northern state and the university of mary. Of note, keep an eye on senior anna bjorlin's at-bats, as the senior is now just one hit away from cu's all-time hits record of 229.
