ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University softball team (16-30, 11-15 NSIC) picked up a midweek split with Southwest Minnesota State (12-29-1, 9-16-1 NSIC) on Tuesday afternoon at Carlander Field. The Golden Bears took game one 2-1 and the Mustangs took game two 5-2.

Junior Stephanie Kappes (8-18) was excellent in the circle for CU as she held the Mustangs to one run on seven hits in 10.0 innings of work as she started in the first game and pitched in relief in the second game. She struck out 12 while walking just two on the day.

GAME ONE: Concordia-St. Paul 2, Southwest Minnesota State 1

Kappes was in control from the first pitch of the game as she retired five of the first six hitters of the game via the strikeout. She held the Mustangs off the board for the first five innings of the game as she scattered three hits over that span.

The Golden Bears broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third as they took advantage of their speed and scored two runs with only one ball leaving the infield. Cassie Bertelsen got things going as she reached base on an error by the third baseman and Alicia Meiser and Teona Zepeda followed with infield singles to load the bases. Bekah picked up her team-leading 40th RBI as she sinlged through the hole to bring home Bertelsen and Liz Jarosz collected her 39th RBI of the year on a fielder's choice as the Mustangs were unable to turn two in time to end the inning.

SMSU starter Rachel Hoeppner (7-13) settled in after the third and allowed only two hits the rest of the way. She finished the game allowing just five hits and no earned runs walking one and striking out five in the loss.

Her Mustangs rallied in the sixth to close the gap to one as they strung together three hits and scored on a single for Jazmyne Neely down the right field line. Kappes escaped any more trouble as seh snagged a line drive and doubled Kaley Scearcy off of third base.

Kappes sent down SMSU in order in the seventh to preserve her eighth win on the year. She allowed just one run on six hits and struck out seven in the complete game win.

Five Golden Bears each had hits as Meiser, Zepeda and Roth all singled in the third and Bertelsen and Kelly McKenzie singled in the fourth.

GAME TWO: Southwest Minnesota State 5, Concordia-St. Paul 2

Concordia was first on the board again in game two as they took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first.

SMSU pitcher Alex O'Connor struggled to find the zone in the opening frame as she walked four hitters and allowed in the inning.

Jamie Fleischhacker delivered one of the two hits in the first as she singled through the hole in the left side of the infield to bring home Zepeda, who reached on a walk to start the game. Tessa Ewert drove in the other run with a bases loaded walk that brought home Liz Jarosz, who also walked.

O'Connor (5-16) was locked in after that as she only allowed two hits and one walk the rest of the way.

The Mustangs took the lead in the top of the fourth as they brought three home. After two singles to open the inning, an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt brought home a run and moved runners up to second and third, setting up a potential big inning. SMSU followed it up with and RBI single to tie it and a fielder's choice to short to take the lead. Starter Linzy Heim used a line drive double play to work out of the jam and limit the damage.

SMSU was back at it in the fifth with two singles up the middle on the first two pitches of the inning to chase Heim from the game. Kappes came into the game and struck out the first batter she faced, but a wild pitch and another error in the infield brought home two more runs.

Heim (8-11) had a tough luck afternoon as she allowed five runs, three earned, on ten hits in four innings to take the loss.

Kappes was effective again in relief as she allowed one hit and two walks with five strikeouts in three innings of work.

Concordia managed only one baserunner in the final three innings as Zepeda reached on an error in the seventh as their comeback attempt fell short.

The Golden Bears will look to hang on in their pursuit for a spot in the NSIC Tournament as UMD and SCSU come to town to close out the regular season. Both doubleheaders are set to begin on 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.