MANKATO, Minn. - Concordia had three huge two out hits and none was more important than the full count, two out, two run home run by Erin Tjornhom (Eagan, Minn.). Her shot over the left field fence gave the Golden Bears a 6-5 win over #6 Minnesota State Mankato as CU advances to Central Region 1 Championship, scheduled for tomorrow. Their opponent will be determined later today. BOX SCORE | PRESS CONFERENCE | WATCH LIVE | CENTRAL REGION WEBSITE
Coming into the match up, the Golden Bears were 0-4 against the Mavericks this season but it did not matter this day as Concordia found a way to win. Clutch hitting was the story of the game for CU and their defensive helped them out a long the way.
The top of the first went quick as MSU starter Kendra Huettl struck out the first three batters in CU's lineup. Minnesota State got a leadoff single and then a sac bunt to put a runner in scoring position immediately. A wild pitch followed by a single up the middle put them up 1-0 right away. The Mavericks picked up two more base runners and loaded them up with just one out. Ashley Kluever (Cottage Grove, Minn.) picked up a strikeout and then got a ground ball to short where Brynn Larsen (Oconto Falls, Wis.) made the first many nice plays on the day going deep in the hole and cutting the runner down at third.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams Concordia started their third inning off with two straight outs. Katie Anderson (Mendota Heights, Minn.) reached and then stole second before Alicia Meiser (Circle Pines, Minn.) reached via the walk. Calli Brennan (Mendota Height, Minn.) came through with a double to left field that allowed both Anderson and Meiser to score putting CU up 2-1. The lead did not last long as MSU would pick up a two run homer with two outs making it 3-2 in favor of the Mavericks after three innings.
Missie Feuerbach (Iowa City, Iowa) led off with a double over the center fielder's head in the fourth, the second lead off double on the day for CU as Tjornhom did so in the second. Just like the second inning Concordia was unable to get the leadoff runner home. MSU spoiled a chance of their own in the fourth leaving runners on second and third.
The Golden Bears still trailed 3-2 and had the top of the lineup coming to bat in the fifth but were unable to take advantage going down in order. The Mavericks extended the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a solo shot to lead off the inning and then added another run on a one out RBI. There was a runner on second with one out but Larsen made a nice running play down the line in left and Kluever got a strikeout ending the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning M. Feuerbach drew a one out walk and Larsen singled past the diving shortstop to put runners on first and second. Minnesota State then changed pitchers bringing in Courtney McKelvogue. She got a strike out right away but after a passed ball CU had runners on second and third with freshman Cassie Bertelsen (Oakdale, Minn.) up at the plate. Bertelsen hit a 3-2 pitch right back through the middle and cutting the MSU lead to just one at 5-4. It was also important because it meant the top of the lineup would bat in the seventh inning. Before that inning tough MSU tried to add some more insurance runs. Kluever walked a batter with one out and did so again with two down putting a pair of runners on. Those runners then moved up on a wild pitch before Kluever got a hard fly out to left field ending the sixth inning.
Anderson struck out swinging to start the CU seventh but Meiser reached on an error putting the tying run on base. Brennan put a charge into one but it hung up as she flew out down the line in left field. That would bring up the All-NSIC First Teamer Tjornhom. The count quickly went to 3-1 before a called strike made it a full count. It was still a full count two pitches later after a few foul balls off the left side. On the eighth pitch of the at bat Tjornhom got a pitch she liked and put it over the fence in left field giving CU the 6-5 lead, their second lead of the game. Concordia put two more runners on in the seventh but failed to add insurance runs as Kluever would have to keep MSU at bay in the bottom of the seventh inning. She got a pop up to second on a 3-1 pitch for the first out. She then got a soft liner to shallow left field that was caught over the shoulder by short stop Brynn Larsen. The game ended a batter later as Kluever picked up her first one, two, three inning of the game with another pop up in the infield.
Concordia will now advance to play in the Championship game on Sunday. There was a weather delay on Saturday and bad weather is in the report for Sunday game times could change. The opponent is also to be determined at the moment with no teams eliminated as of yet.
Head coach
Bob Bartel said immediately after the game "I'm still not sure where to start but it was fun game." Talking about her homer Tjornhom said "I was trying to get a single and give us a chance to win." She did not get a single but I think she and the team will take the two run homer any day.
