EMPORIA, Kan. – The Golden Bears softball team (3-1) concluded the weekend with a split against ranked teams, earning a 7-4 win in eight innings against #14 Missouri-St. Louis before falling to #10 Southern Arkansas 10-1 in five innings in the second day of the 6-State Classic hosted by Emporia.
GAME 1: Concordia-St. Paul 7, #14 Missouri-St. Louis 4 (8 innings)
The Golden Bears knocked off #14 Missouri-St. Louis to start the day, using two big innings to secure the win. The Tritons were leading 2-0 heading after three innings of play, but CSP rallied, scoring three runs in the fifth to take the lead. UMSL tied it up in the bottom of the sixth and the game went into extra innings. The Bears rallied again in the eighth inning, scoring four runs on four hits to take a 7-3 lead. The defense took care of the rest, only allowing one run in the bottom of the inning to finalize the 7-4 win.
This is the second-extra inning win for the Bears in the past three games, which is the only time that this has happened to open a season in Concordia's Division II history. It is also the first time that CSP has defeated a ranked opponent since April 26
th, 2012 when the Bears defeated #12 Winona State 11-3 in an NSIC playoff game.
Sophomore
Samantha Sullivan got the start on the mound for the Bears, going the first 5.2 innings.
Kali Kaestner entered in relief and would come away with the win. The 5-4 sophomore is now 2-0 to start the year.
The Tritons jumped on the board early, as their lead-off hitter walked, advanced to second on a grounder to the pitcher, and scored on a two-out single. UMSL would score again in the bottom of the third when a runner on third scored on a ground-out to second.
The Bears answered in the fifth, though, when
Hannah Carlson led off with a homerun, the third of her career.
Lily Langevin then singled and stole second base.
Carlie Hart singled to score her and then stole second base herself, scoring on an error by the shortstop. Hart's run would put the Bears up 3-2. The Tritons would score again in the sixth and a scoreless seventh sent the game into extra innings.
To start the eighth, Hart started on second due to the international tie-breaker rule.
Nicole Thompson, singled, scoring Hart and then
Justine Schattner doubled scoring Thompson.
Haley Schanks joined in the action, singling to score Schattner and eventually coming around to score on a single from
Amanda Parsons. Kaestner and the rest of the defense took care of business in the bottom of the inning, only allowing the Tritons to earn back one run, allowing them to win 7-4.
The defense played well all game, only committing one error and getting out of tough situations, forcing UMSL to leave 12 runners on base throughout the contest.
GAME 2: Concordia-St. Paul 4, #10 Southern Arkansas
The Bears closed out the 6-State Classic against #10 Southern Arkansas, who wasted no time, scoring ten within the first two innings. The Bears answered with a run of their own in the fourth and held the Muleriders scoreless for the rest of the game, but were unable to come up with more runs, falling 10-1 in five innings.
CSP recorded three hits in the loss, all coming in the top of the fourth inning. Thompson led off with a single followed by singles from Schanks and Carlson, with Thompson scoring on Carlson's single through the right side. This was Carlson's second straight game with an RBI and Thompson's fourth straight game with at least one hit.
Sophomore
Aryka Knoche would take the loss, allowing ten runs on nine hits and three walks in 1.2 innings of work. Both Kaestner and Sullivan appeared in relief, not giving up a hit in their combined 2.1 innings pitched.
The Golden Bears will play next in Minnesota, taking on NSIC opponents in non-conference games in the 2018 Dragon Beaver Bash that will take place in the West St. Paul dome. CSP will play Bemidji State and MSU Moorhead on February 22
nd at 12 and 2 p.m. and will take on Southwest Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead the following day at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
