DULUTH, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (11-20, 3-7 NSIC) dropped both games to a very good Minnesota Duluth team (26-9, 11-1 NSIC) by a score of 4-1 in both games.

GAME 1: Minnesota Duluth 4, Concordia-St. Paul 1
Carlie Hart has been hitting the ball well at the top of the order for CSP and she kept it going against Duluth leading off the game with an infield single. Following a sacrifice bunt, Hart would reach second and the steal third. She would then score on infield groundout giving Concordia an early 1-0 lead.  
 
Following a scoreless second inning the Bulldogs would tie the game at one when Hannah Bloch would score from third on an infield groundout.
 
Concordia would go down in order in the top of the fourth before UMD would pile three runs in the home half of the inning making it a 4-1 advantage.
 
Duluth would load the bases with no outs and a groundout, single through the left side and a sacrifice fly out would bring home the runs in the inning.
 
The rest of the way the Golden Bears would only pile two hits in the final three innings of the game. In the seventh Concordia would load the bases with only one out, but could not capitalize as the final two batters would strike and groundout, respectively ending the chance of a comeback.
 
Sam Hartmann (11-3) took the win in the circle for the Bulldogs pitching five innings, allowing three hits, one run while striking out three. Ashley Taipale came in for the final two innings to earn her third save of the season.
 
Linzy Heim (6-9) took the loss for CSP going the distance, allowing five hits, four runs and striking out three.
 
Emily Shinn led the way for the Golden Bears going 2-3 at the plate. Hart and Elena Koncar each went 1-3 for CSP.
 
Hannah Schmoll, Lauren Oberle, Sammi Sadler, Kalynn Tilton and Hannah Bloch all finished with one hit for UMD.
 
GAME 2: Minnesota Duluth 4, Concordia-St. Paul 1
Concordia struck first again, this time in the second inning off a sacrifice fly by Emily Shinn which scored from third to give them a 1-0 lead.
 
From the time Concordia took their 1-0 lead in the top of the second, starting pitcher Samantha Sullivan would only allow one hit and no one reach scoring position.
 
The Golden Bears would hold their 1-0 lead all the way into the sixth inning before the Bulldogs would drive in four runs to take a 4-1 lead with only half of an inning to play.
 
Hannah Schmoll would lead off the bottom of the sixth with a triple and then Natalie Wright would bring her home to tie the game 1-1 with a double. Becky Smith would then bring Wright home from second with a RBI single to center giving UMD a 2-1 advantage.
 
The following at bat Lauren Oberle would clear the bases with a 2-run home run to left center field making it a 4-1 Bulldog advantage.
 
In the seventh the Golden Bears would go down in order, again preventing any comeback attempt falling for the second straight game 4-1.
 
Valerie Hohol (9-1) came away with the win for UMD pitching all seven innings, allowing six hits, one run and striking out three. Sullivan (5-9) took the loss, pitching six innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and striking out three.
 
Justine Schattner led the way for CSP going 2-3 at the plate. Lily Langevin, Haley Schanks, Liz Jarosz and Lauren Bartel all added one hit on the evening.
 
Natalie Wright went a perfect 3-3 at the plate for Minnesota Duluth with one RBI and one run scored.
 
Concordia is back in action tomorrow as they wrap up their road trip with a double header at St. Cloud State. First pitch for game one is at 1 pm.