WINONA, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (15-32, 7-19 NSIC) was swept by Winona State (42-9, 23-3) Wednesday evening in their midweek matchup. The Warriors shut out CSP, 6-0 in game one and 7-0 in game two for the sweep.
GAME 1: Winona State 6, Concordia-St. Paul 0
It was a pitching duel between
Linzy Heim and McKenna Larson as the game remained scoreless until the fifth inning.
Larson had a no-hitter through four innings of play as Concordia struggled to get a hit against the Warriors ace. Heim would only allow three hits through the first four innings and prevented WSU from taking an early lead in the third leaving runners stranded on second and third.
The Golden Bears got their first hit of the game in the top of the fifth off a Heim single through the left side. That would be all for Concordia in the top of the inning before the Warriors produced six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Heim retired the first two batters and it looked as if it was going to remain a scoreless game. Mariah Schultz would change that with a solo home run to center field giving WSU a 1-0 lead.
Following a single, hit by pitch and fielding error, the Warriors would load the bases for Jamee Schleis would double to right center, scoring all three runners making it a 4-0 game. Samantha McLean would follow with a single and then Katelyn Kolb would double to left center brining home Schleis. McLean would score on a wild pitch to make it a 6-0 lead.
CSP would get their final two hits of the game in the sixth off a pair of singles by
Carlie Hart and
Lily Langevin. Hart would reach scoring position but could not be brought home.
WSU had an opportunity to add to their as they loaded the bases with only one out but the defense of Concordia prevented any more runs from scoring. Larson completed the shut out with a one, two, three, seventh inning giving Winona State the game one, 6-0 win.
Larson (19-4) earned her 19
th win of the season in the complete game shutout, allowing only three hits, no runs and striking out nine.
Heim (9-14) took the loss also going the distance, allowing 10 hits, six runs (one earned) and striking out five.
Hart, Langevin and Heim each came away with one hit in the loss for Concordia. Kolb, Schultz and McLean all finished with a pair of hits for WSU in the win. Schleis finished with three RBI in game one for the Warriors.
GAME 2: Winona State 7, Concordia-St. Paul 0
Carlie Hart would lead off game two with a double to right center field and would advance to third two batters later, but was unable to score and give CSP an early lead.
The Warriors would load the bases with one out in the home half of the first and McKenna Larson would score from third on a ground out by Alison Nowak to give WSU an early 1-0 lead. Shaye Witte would follow with a two out single scoring two more runs to make it a 3-0 advantage after one inning of play.
Winona State would make it a four run differential in the second off a sacrifice fly by Katelyn Kolb that scored McLean from third.
In the third after a pair of singles by
Elena Koncar and
Lily Langevin with no outs, Concordia had a prime opportunity to cut into the WSU lead. However, the pitching of Jordyn Kleman got the Warriors out of the jam retiring the next three batters and keeping CSP off the board.
WSU had another chance to add to their lead in the fourth as they put runners on the corners with only one out, but the pitching of
Samantha Sullivan and Concordia defense got out of the jam keeping it a 4-0 game.
In the fifth, the Warriors would not miss their chance to score for a second straight inning. Mariah Schultz led off with a single and then stole second before Nowak drove her home with a RBI double to left center. McKenna Gutt would come in to pinch run and eventually advance to third with two outs before Allyson O'Herron singled scoring Gutt from third, making it a 6-0 lead for WSU.
Winona State would make it a 7-0 advantage with a bases loaded walk by Schleis, scoring Schultz from third. WSU would go on to complete sweep and the shut for the second straight game, retiring the Golden Bears in order in the seventh.
Jordyn Kleman (17-5) took the win after pitching a complete game, allowing no runs, four hits and striking out seven in the win.
Samantha Sullivan (6-14) ended up with the loss, pitching six innings, allowing nine hits, seven runs (six earned), and striking out one.
Elena Koncar led CSP with a pair of hits in the loss while Hart and Langevin finished with one hit a piece. Nowak and O'Herron each finished the day 2-4 at the plate for the Warriors combining for three RBI in the win.
Concordia wraps up their 2017 season this weekend as they travel to Minot State on Saturday and U-Mary on Sunday. Game one for both days will begin at 12 pm.
