ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Concordia University softball team (0-1) saw a seventh-inning rally fall short in a 3-0 loss to Missouri Western (6-4) on Thursday morning in the Kelly Laas Memorial Invitational.
The Golden Bears were able to put baserunners on in six of seven innings but were unable to put any runs on the board.
Janie Smith (3-3) picked up her third win of the season for the Griffons as she held CU to five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three in the shutout.
Stephanie Kappes (0-1) was nearly as impressive in the circle as she gave up just three hits and one run with three strikeouts in five innings of work despite receiving the loss.
Nicole Thompson had a solid debut for the Golden Bears as she picked up two of Concordia's five hits as she collected both her first career hit as well as her first career multi-hit game in her first game.
Lizzy Swenson also added her first career hit as she went 1-3 at the plate.
Despite the two teams putting runners on nearly every inning in the early going, the score remained scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Missouri Western finally came through with a big hit in the fourth as Klosterman drove an RBI single with two outs to put the first run on the board.
Concordia threatened in the top of the fifth as
Navarae Honoroff reached on an error and
Elena Koncar walked to put runners on first and second with one out.
Kelly McKenzie bunted them over to put two in scoring position with two down but they were unable to score as a groundout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Griffons tacked on two insurance runs as Klosterman drew a bases loaded walk and Paige Shifflett scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
The Golden Bears put pressure on Missouri Western again in the seventh as
Linzy Heim led off the inning with a single. After the next two hitters were retired,
Elena Koncar walked and
Kelly McKenzie singled to load the bases but a groundout ended the rally and ended the game.
Concordia will look to get back in the win column tonight as they take on Emporia State at 7 p.m. and Central Missouri at 9 p.m. Game times are subject to change based on field availability.
