BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Concordia Golden Bears softball team (1-6) dropped their first game on day two of the 8 State Classic by Rogers State (Okla.) (7-2) by a score of 6-1.
*CSP is currently playing Northeastern State and a short recap will be posted at a later time.
Rogers State 6, Concordia-St. Paul 1
In the first inning both teams were able to get runners in scoring position but could not drive in go ahead run leaving pair of runners on base. No hits were recorded but three combined walks and one hit-by-pitch put runners on the bases.
The second inning was very similar to the first inning.
Lizzy Swenson drew CSP's third walk of the game and then stole second but could not be driven home.
Megan Scott recorded the first of the game for RSU with a one out double in the home half of the second, but like Swenson, she was stranded at second.
Nicole Thompson would record the first hit of the game for the Golden Bears in the top of third off a double to right center. Thompson would eventually advance to third but could not be driven home leaving the game scoreless.
The Hillcats recorded the first run of the game in the bottom of the third after Kayla Patterson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and no one out. The runs would not stop there for RSU as Ali Turner grounded out to second but scored Morgen Blanchard from third.
Mikayla Waggnor would wrap up the scoring for Rogers State in the third with a RBI double to left field that scored De'Leigh Emarthle from third to give RSU a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.
Concordia had a chance to cut into the Hillcats lead in the top of the fourth after
Sarah Kivisto doubled with two outs, but could not cross home before the inning concluded.
Rogers State would add to their lead in the home half of the fourth with runners on first and second, Emarthle would record a RBI single scoring Blanchard from second. Two batters later with runners on second and third, Ali Turner would record a RBI double scoring both runners and giving RSU a 6-0 lead.
After a scoreless and hitless fifth inning by both teams, the Golden Bears finally tallied their first run of the game courtesy of a
Liz Jarosz solo homerun to lead off the sixth inning.
Hannah Carlson would record a one out single keeping the momentum with CSP but Kivisto would then ground into a double play to end the top half of the inning.
CSP would not allow a hit in the bottom of the sixth and had one final chance to extend the game into extra innings. Concordia would eventually load the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh but a ground out Jarosz would end a comeback attempt and the game at 6-1.
Concordia starter
Linzy Heim (1-3) took the loss going four innings surrendering six runs off eight hits while striking out two.
Haley Schanks pitched the final two innings and did not allow a single hit and struck out two.
Mayra Helguera, the RSU starter, picked up the win as she allowed one run on four hits in five and one-third innings before Edie Fairchild came in to finish the game.
Nicole Thompson led the way for CSP going 2-4 at the plate with a single and a double. Jarosz, Carlson and Kivisto each recorded one hit and Jarosz belted her first home run of the season.
Seven different players recorded hits for the Hillcats led by Mikayla Waggnor who went 2-4 at the plate with a RBI. Ali Turner finished the game with 3 RBI.
