ST. PAUL, Minn. - On a historic and senior day at Carlander Field the Golden Bears (25-19, 11-11 NSIC) were able to sweep Minnesota, Crookston (9-36, 3-21 NSIC). Katie Anderson (Mendota Heights, Minn.) broke the all-time school record in steals, as she picked up #102 on her career. She along with Calli Brennan (Mendota Heights) and Erin Tjornhom (Eagan, Minn.) were all honored on senior day. Concordia won one 4-3 and picked up the sweep with a 11-4 win in game two. GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX
GAME 1
The first two innings saw the pitchers dominate as they got both lineups to go down in order each time. Ashley Kluever (Cottage Grove, Minn.) again got UMC to go down in order in the top of third inning as she put all nine Golden Eagles down in their first at bats against her. Tessa Ewert (Hutchinson, Minn.) picked a two out single up the middle to break up the no hit bid from Schaust, but she was stranded on first to end the inning.
Minnesota, Crookston picked up a leadoff single from Courtney Bridge but after a fielder's choice, Hilary Brown was able to steal second with two down to have the first real threat at scoring on the day. Kluever was able to get a soft pop up back at her to end the inning. The Golden Bears got one out singles from Calli Brennan (Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Erin Tjornhom (Eagan, Minn.) to put runners on first and third with one out. After Tjornhom stole second Brynn Larsen (Oconto Falls, Wis.) grounded out to first for the second out. Missie Feuerbach (Iowa City, Iowa) drew a two out walk to load the bases before Bekah Roth (Shoreview, Minn.) grounded out to end the threat.
Kluever pitched around a two out hits batsmen to keep UMC off the board through five. Cassie Bertelsen (Oakdale, Minn.) reached on an error to start of the inning and Megan Revoir (Hammond, Wis.) pitch ran for her. Ewert also reached via an error by the third baseman to put runners on first and second. Anderson then reached on a fielder's choice as Revoir was out on the play. Jade Ptacek (Sioux Falls, S. D.) pinch ran for Ewert before Alicia Meiser (Circle Pines, Minn.) popped up for the second out of the inning. Brennan came through with big hit as she roped a double to left center scoring two. Tjornhom then singled and scored Brennan before scoring herself on on Larsen's single through the right side. All four runs in the inning were unearned as CU took a 4-0 lead.
UMC came right back picking up a two out three run homer to left field and drawing with one run. Concordia tried to pick up an insurance run in the sixth but failed to score as CU went to the seventh inning up just one. Kluever was able to pin down the win as she put the Golden Eagles down in order. Kluever finished the game allowing just three hits and three runs while striking out seven.
GAME 2
Stephanie Kappes (Circle Pines, Minn.) started game two but immediately faced trouble in the first. She did not get help right away as an one out error started the threat. Kappes then walked a batter and had to get a two out fly out to right to end the inning. Concordia's Katie Anderson started the second game in style as she picked up a solo home run on the fourth pitch she saw sending it over the fence in right putting CU up 1-0 after one.
The Golden Eagles chased Kappes quickly in the second inning. Kappes walked the leadoff batter and then after a sac bunt she hit batter and allowed single as the bases were loaded with one out. UMC picked up a single to right as one run scored tying up the game. Minnesota, Crookston was not done as Kappes gave up a two out bases loaded walk and then a two RBI single to right making it 4-1 in favor of the Golden Eagles. Ashley Kluever replaced Kappes with two outs in the inning and shut UMC down.
Concordia came back with a pair of runs in the second inning thanks to a two out rally. Roth and Ewert singled and then Abby Foster (Waverly, Iowa) drew a walk to load the bases up. Anderson came through once again as she singled up the middle plating two both Roth and Ewert. Anderson then stole second to break the school record for most steals and after Meiser walked, Brennan flied out to right to end the inning.
Kluever pitched around a two out single up the middle as she continued to keep Concordia within one at 4-3. Tjornhom helped CU tie it up in the third as she hit a lead off homer as she got in to a pitch and out on Marshall Avenue. The Golden Bears picked up a two more hits in the inning but was unable to take a lead.
Crookston went down in order in the fourth as Kluever picked up a pair of strikeouts. Meiser walked with one out and then stole second as CU threatened to take the lead back. Brennan singled to move Meiser up to third with one out. Tjornhom grounded out to first but Meiser was able to score on the play as CU took a 5-4 lead into the fifth inning.
Once again Kluever put UMC down one, two, three in the in the top of the fifth. M. Feuerbach led off the fifth and hit a homerun inside the foul pole in left field as the lead grew to 6-4. Roth drew a walk and forced a pitching change from the Golden Eagles. Game one starter Paige Schaust came back and quickly got a pair of outs. With two outs Anderson singled through the right side and Ewert advanced to third. Meiser then reached on a fielder's choice as Anderson beat out a throw at second as Ewert scored on the play. Meiser and Anderson then moved up on as a throw got away from the Golden Eagles. A wild pitch followed and Anderson scored and then the throw from the catcher trying to get Anderson got away and Meiser scored to make it 9-4 after five complete.
Kluever picked up another strikeout as she again set UMC down in order in the sixth. The Golden Bears added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as Roth and Foster picked up RBI singles to right field. Concordia almost ended the game in the sixth inning but left the bases loaded as the went to the seventh with CU up 11-4. Kluever picked up the win as she put UMC down in order once again in the seventh. Kluever provided five and third shut out innings of relief allowing just one hit and struck out seven. She finished the day with 14 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings pitched.
Concordia will now face MSU-Moorhead tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at Carlander Field. The Golden Bears will need one win to clinch a spot in the NSIC Tournament next weekend but can move up higher than the eighth spot potentially if they can pick up a pair of wins tomorrow afternoon in the regular season finale.
