ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Golden Bears (18-11, 3-3 NSIC) got the sweep they were looking for as they were able to upend Northern State (12-16, 3-5 NSIC) by scores of 3-2 and 4-3 on a cold Saturday afternoon. Calli Brennan (Mendota Heights, Minn.) was 4-6 with two RBI and a home run on the afternoon. GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX | PHOTO GALLERY
GAME 1
The Wolves took the early lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a pair of walks, a pair of passed balls and a error. Despite the CU struggles they only gave up one run in the first inning. CU quickly tied the game up by pushing a run across in their half of the inning. Concordia led off with three straight singles by Katie Anderson (Mendota Heights, Minn.), Alicia Meiser (Circle Pines, Minn.) and Brennan. Brennan's single scored Anderson to tie the game up. After a fielder's choice as Meiser was out at home, Larsen lined into a double play to end the inning.
Ashley Kluever (Cottage Grove, Minn.) got into some trouble in the second inning walking a runner and having a batter reach via the error but she got a pop out and strike out to end the threat. Concordia got a walk in their half of the second but did not score. Both teams had runners on in the third inning as well but failed to score.
NSU picked up a run in the fourth inning thanks to a single to right field that got a way from Tjornhom and Caitlin Moran scampered all the way home. CU did not do anything in the fourth inning going down in order. The Wolves got a pair of hits in the top of the fifth but Kluever did not give up a run. Concordia also threatened in their half of the fifth inning as they had a pair of singles but left two on base.
After the Wolves went down in the top of the sixth Concordia came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tjornhom led off with a single and moved to second after a ground out. Missie Feuerbach (Iowa City, Iowa) then singled to put runners on first and third. Bekah Roth (Shoreview, Minn.) drew a walk loading up the bases. Cassie Bertlesen (Oakdale, Minn.) got the game tying and game winning RBI as her fielder's choice scored pinch runner Jade Ptacek (Sioux Falls, S. D.) and Erin Tjornhom (Eagan, Minn.) as the throw home got away.
Kluever picked up the complete game win as she got the Wolves out in the seventh despite giving up a hit and having a batter reach on the error. She got a strikeout to end the game, her ninth strikeout of the game, setter her season high.
GAME 2
Northern State took advantage of an error in the first innings as they took a 1-0 lead early on. A two out single by Brittany Huback and then a dropped fly ball to right field allowed her to come all the way around from first. The first two batters were out in bottom of the first for CU but then two straight singles followed putting runners on first and second with two down. Brynn Larsen (Oconto Falls, Wis.) singled to right but Rachel South came up throwing and nailed Calli Brennan who was trying to score from second ending the inning.
Stephanie Kappes (Circle Pines, Minn.) retired the Wolves in order in the second and third innings. Concordia spoiled a lead off walk in their half of the second but in the third Calli Brennan deposited a ball on Marshall Avenue tying the game at one.
In the fourth inning NSU got a lead off single and after two straight fielder's choice outs, another single followed putting runners on first and second with two outs. Kappes bared down and got a ground ball to Brennan ending the inning for NSU. Concordia went down one, two, three in their half of the fourth. Kappes got the first two batters out in the fifth but an error and then a stolen base had Northern State treating before Kappes got her third strikeout of the game.
Bekah Roth (Shoreview, Minn.) drew a lead off walk in the fifth inning and was sacrificed to second for the first out. Anderson drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Meiser lined out hard to second bringing Brennan to the plate with two outs. Brennan flied out to center as the game moved to the sixth tied at one.
The Wolves got a lead off walk in their half of the sixth inning. After a sac bunt and fly out to left, Erin Yancey smacked a homer to left center field putting the Wolves up 3-1 after five and a half innings. Concordia loaded the bases with no body out in the sixth as Tjornhom walked, Larsen singles and Kappes walked to start the inning. Feuerbach drew a walk to pick up an RBI and bring CU within one and kept the bases loaded. Roth then reached on a fielder's choice as Whitney Luhring tried to cut down Larsen at home but could not. Bertlesen struck out for the first out but the bases were still loaded with one out for Anderson. Anderson did her job hitting a fly ball to right to score pinch hitter Megan Revoir (Hammond, Wis.). Concordia took the 4-3 lead in to the seventh inning.
Kappes was able to get through the seventh inning despite allowing a two out single to center. Kappes improved to 7-7 on the year as she went all seven innings allowing three runs, two earned while striking out six and walking none.
Concordia is back at again tomorrow as they host Mary for a double header starting at 12:00 p.m.
