WINONA, Minn. - The Golden Bears (20-12, 5-4 NSIC) dropped the first game of the double header with #3 Winona State (28-2, 9-0 NSIC) 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The Warriors used a big six run fifth inning to overcome CU's 1-0 lead. Concordia erased a 2-0 lead in game two taking a 4-2 lead before losing via a walk off single in the seventh GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

GAME 1

Katie Anderson (Mendota Heights, Minn.) got on via a leadoff walk and then Alicia Meiser (Circle Pines, Minn.) singled as CU threatened in the top of the first, but three straight outs followed as the Warriors escaped. WSU got a single to leadoff their half of the first but it was quickly erased on a double play line drive to first by Molly Link. Kim Wachholder was caught looking to end the inning.

Concordia got a pair of runners on again in the top of the second inning but again could not get the clutch hit to put CU out in front. Golden Bears starter Stephanie Kappes (Circle Pines, Minn.) allowed a two out single in the second but did not allow anymore as the game went to the third tied at zero.

Back to back one out singles from Calli Brennan (Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Erin Tjornhom (Eagan, Minn.) gave CU a threat in the third. Brynn Larsen reached on an error to second loading up the bases with just one away. Missie Feuerbach (Iowa City, Iowa) hit a sac fly to left field scoring Brennan but Tjornhom was caught trying to advance to third on the throw home ending the inning. In the Warriors half of the third inning started out slow but two singles with two outs putting runners on first and third. Kappes was able to get Wachholder to fly out to right as the NSIC's power leader was held in check for the second time.

Bekah Roth (Shoreview, Minn.) reached on an error to leadoff the fourth inning but Concordia was unable to take advantage as three straight outs ended the inning. WSU had a one out single but that was all they could do in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Golden Bears went down in order in the top of the fifth inning for the first time all game. The Warriors loaded the bases with three straight singles to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. The inning exploded from that point as WSU got a fielder's choice RBI to start the scoring. After a pop fly to third, Winona got a two run single to right field to put them up 3-1. Concordia was almost able to get out of it after a strikeout but WSU got a big hit with a homer to right field putting the Warriors up 6-1 after five.

The Golden Bears went down in order again and the Warriors followed suit in the sixth inning as the game headed to the seventh with WSU leading 6-1. Concordia tried to rally in the seventh as they had runners on first and second with one out but a 6-3 double play ended the inning and the game.

GAME 2

In the top of the first inning, Anderson started by singling to right and then stole second. Meiser drew a walk next and then she and Anderson moved up on a wild pitch. After two straight ground ball outs to the pitcher, Brynn Larsen (Oconto Falls, Wis.) drew a walk to load up the bases. The inning would end as M. Feuerbach grounded out to short. Winona State's Wachholder drew a two out walk but that was all the Warriors could muster in the first as Ashley Kluever (Cottage Grove, Minn.) started the second game of the day.

Concordia again threatened in the second as they tried to start a two out rally. Abby Foster (Waverly, Iowa) drew a walk and then Anderson doubled to center field. Unfortunately Meiser grounded out to first ending the second inning threat. WSU had a runner reach via a two error but could not do anything else heading to the third still knotted at zero. The Golden Bears went down in order in their half of the third inning.

Winona State opened in the scoring in the bottom of the inning as they would score twice. The inning started with two singles and throwing error that allowed a runner to move up. A fielder's choice RBI followed and then a single to center would score the next run putting WSU up 2-0 after three.

M. Feuerbach got CU on the board with a leadoff homer to left field, her sixth of the season which leads the team. After a ground out and fly ball out, Foster drew her second walk of the game to restart the rally. Anderson followed with a walk of her own and then Meiser singled to center scoring Foster. Brennan singled down the right field line to score Anderson as Meiser strolled into third. Tjornhom then followed with a single of her own scoring Meiser and giving CU the 4-2 lead. Kluever hit the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fourth and then walked a runner with one out to put runners on first and second. Link had a two out single scoring Kullmann from second as the lead was down to the 4-3. Winona State tied the game on another single and the inning ended as Meiser threw out Link, trying to score.

The Golden Bears picked up leadoff single in the fifth but were unable to take advantage of it as three straight outs followed. The Warriors also had a silent fifth going down in order. Concordia followed suit in the top of the sixth inning as did the Winona State showing that the pitchers now had control.

Still tied at four headed to the seventh inning, Tjornhom grounded out to short stop to start the inning. Back to back line drive outs ended the inning for CU. Winona State's leadoff hitter was also out in the seventh but they got a single to left field from Link to start the rally. After a ground out to short stop Link advanced to second base with two outs. After a walk, Britt Stewart singled down the left field line scoring Link from second and giving WSU the 5-4 victory.