BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Concordia Golden Bears softball team (1-5) dropped a pair of non-conference games as they fell to Pittsburg State (Kan.) 6-3 and Arkansas-Monticello 5-1 on Friday at the first day of the 8 State Classic.
 
Pittsburg State 6, Concordia-St. Paul 3
CSP tallied three first inning runs but they were not able to hold Pittsburg State as they dropped their first game of the 8 state classic by a score of 6-3.
 
Concordia starter Linzy Heim (1-2) went the distance surrendering six runs off eight eights while striking out three but ended up taking the loss after a big fourth inning by the Gorillas.
 
Bree Cornett, the PSU starter, picked up the win as she allowed three runs on five hits in six innings before Brittany Beaudet came on in the seventh to collect the save.
 
The Gorillas opened the scoring in the first thanks to a two out, RBI single by Kylie Guthier that scored Kaity Kukowski.

Concordia would respond in the home half of the first with three runs to take a 3-1 lead. With two outs and runners on first and second, Haley Schanks would double down the left field line scoring Nicole Thompson from second to tie the game.

The scoring would not stop there as Hannah Carlson would drive in Justine Schattner from second off a RBI single and then Emily Shinn would score Schanks from second of a RBI double to give CSP a 3-1 lead.

Following a three up and three down second inning for both teams. Pittsburg State would load the bases with two outs in the top of the third before Kala Holder would clear the bases with a grand slam giving PSU a 5-3 lead.

The Gorillas would add an insurance run in the fourth in off a RBI single by Sierra Hall scoring Jenna Bolton from third giving PSU a 6-3 lead.

The scoring would conclude after the fourth and Concordia was only able to get one runner in scoring position the remainder of the game. Pittsburg State would also only be able to get one runner in scoring position the rest of the way.
  
Five players each recorded one hit for the Golden Bears and Schanks, Carlson, and Shinn each recorded a RBI for CSP.

Sierra Hall, Kylie Guthier, and Kala Holder each tallied a pair of hits for the Gorillas and Holder finished with four RBI off her grand slam in the third. Hall and Guthier each recorded a RBI in the win.
 
Arkansas-Monticello 5, Concordia-St. Paul 1
In the second game of the day, Concordia's bats were silenced by Arkansas-Monticello starter Kendra Coleman as they were held to just two hits in a 5-1 loss.
 
Coleman (3-0) stayed unbeaten as she struck out four, walked one and allowed the lone run in the complete game effort for the Blossoms.
 
Samantha Sullivan (0-3) was the tough-luck losing pitcher for the Golden Bears as she allowed five runs on seven hits and walked three in the complete game loss.
 
UAM scratched across a pair of runs in the first as Korie Parker ripped an RBI double to score Jordan Herbner and move Kendra Coleman to third.
 
After a walk to load the bases, a RBI single by Kali Bolter scored Coleman from third giving the Blossoms an early 2-0 lead.
 
Sarah Kivisto would record the first hit of the game for CSP in the form of a double in the top of third but would be stranded at second. Defensively, Concordia would go onto retire nine straight batters over the next three innings and would earn their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth inning.

Following an Elena Koncar walk with two outs, it was Kivisto who would drive a liner to deep left field for a RBI triple, scoring Swenson from first. Kivisto would try to stretch the triple into an inside the park home run and tie the game, but she was thrown out at home.

Arkansas-Monticello would respond in the home half of the fifth as they added three more runs to their total. With runners on second and third, Coleman would drive a double to center field scoring both runners giving UAM a 4-1 lead.

Korie Parker would add an RBI double of her own the following at bat, scoring pinch runner Kristen McNabb from second giving the Bloomers a 5-1 lead which would end up being the final score of the game.
 
Concordia would not be able to put any runners in scoring position the rest of the way as they went three up and three down in the final two innings of play dropping their second game of the day.

Kivisto would finish the game 2-2 at the plate with a double, triple and RBI for CSP. Korie Parker and Kali Bolter each went 2-3 at the plate for UAM while combing for 3 RBI in the game.

The Golden Bears are back in action tomorrow morning as they take on Rogers State (Okla.) at 9 am before taking on Northeastern State (Okla.) at 1 pm.