CLERMONT, Fla. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (5-12) bounced back after a tough loss to begin the day by shutting out Clarion (Pa.) (1-14) 9-0 Thursday afternoon.

Senior pitcher Linzy Heim (2-6) pitched an outstanding game, allowing only two hits, no runs and striking out four in the complete game effort.

After walk-off loss in the previous game against Hillsdale (Mich.) earlier in the morning, the Golden Bears relied on their offense and the pitching of Heim to help clinch their fifth win of the season.
 
CSP jumped ahead right away after forcing a three up and three down by CU in the top of the first. Nicole Thompson singled and advanced to second on an error and then Justine Schattner doubled to move Thompson over to third with one out. Haley Schanks would answer with a double of her own the following at bat scoring Thompson and Schattner while giving Concordia a 2-0 lead.

The runs would not stop there as Schanks would advance to third on a wild pitch before Hannah Carlson drove her home with an RBI single putting CSP up 3-0. Carlson would advance to second on another throwing error. Liz Jarosz would drive home Carlson with a RBI double to give Concordia a 4-0 lead after the first inning of play.

After another three up and three down half inning for the Golden Eagles, the Golden Bears would add a fifth run thanks to a Schanks RBI single scoring Thompson from third. Thompson singled to begin the inning and then stole second and third to move into scoring position.

Clarion would get their only two hits of the game in the second inning off a pair of singles and would eventually load the bases with two outs, but the CSP defense prevented CU from getting on the board.

In the home half of the third, Concordia would pile on two more runs. Sarah Kivisto led off with a single and then Elena Koncar drover her home with a RBI double. Kivisto would advance to third on a throwing error before Lily Langevin drove her home with a RBI single giving CSP a 7-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth the Golden Bears would score their final two runs of the game thanks to a RBI single by Koncar and wild pitch that would score Koncar after she advanced on a throwing error and a single by Langevin.

The Golden Eagles would get a runner on first after a hit by pitch, but the pitching of Heim and defense of CSP prevented any comeback thus giving Concordia the 9-0 win in five innings.

For CSP, Nicole Thompson and Elena Koncar went a perfect 3-3 and 2-2 at the plate, respectively. Koncar added two RBI as well. Haley Schanks finished the game 2-3 at the plate with three RBI.

Cassie Daniels and Alexis Boie recorded the only two hits for Clarion.

CSP is back in action again tomorrow morning as they take on Ohio Dominican at 9:30 am and then St. Michael's (Vt.) for the second time at 12 pm.