WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Golden Bear softball team (5-1) defeated Bemidji State (0-4) 11-3 and MSU Moorhead (1-5) 8-0 in two five inning games on Thursday afternoon to start the Dragon Beaver Bash. Concordia's offense was active all day, as CSP hit .473 (27-57) between the two games, and solid pitching sealed the victories, as the Bears only allowed three runs on the day, all of which were in the first inning of the first game.
GAME 1 Concordia-St. Paul 11, Bemidji State 3 (5 innings)
The Bears brought their bats in the first game of the double-header, tallying 14 hits against Bemidji. Leading the way was sophomore
Hannah Carlson, who went 3-3 with two RBIs and
Justine Schattner who went 2-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Sophomore
Kali Kaestner got the win, improving to 3-0 so far on the year, keeping her ERA at 0.00. The Wisconsin native gave up no runs on no hits in her 4.0 innings of work, while striking out three and walking only one.
Carlie Hart got the game off to a good start for the Bears, opening with a triple to right field. Schattner drove her in with a double to right center, getting CSP out to a quick 1-0 lead. The Beavers answered, though, with five straight hits to open the bottom of the inning to score three runs, leading 3-1 at the end of the first.
The Bears rallied in the top of the second, scoring four runs on four hits. Thompson singled up the middle to score both
Cam Veenbaas and
Lily Langevin (who had singled and reached on a fielder's choice), and Schattner followed that up with a single down the right field line that scored Hart and Thompson.
CSP would add six runs over the next three innings, scoring two in each. Carlson started the top of the third with a single, and a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases. Freshmen
Amanda Parsons and Veenbaas scored in the inning, but both runs were unearned. In the fourth, two singles started the inning, and a double from Carlson scored Schanks and a bunt single from Veenbaas scored
Aryka Knoche. In the fifth, Carlson drove in another run, bringing Schattner around the bases.
Kris McIntyre also scored on the play, due to an error by the left fielder.
The defense played errorless softball, and retired Bemidji 1-2-3 in the final two innings of the game to earn the five inning victory.
GAME 2 Concordia-St. Paul 8, MSU Moorhead 0
In game two, the Bears continued their strong offensive play, recording 13 hits, including four doubles, to score eight runs in five innings. Thompson and Veenbaas both went 3-3 with an RBI each and Langevin went 2-2, to increase her team-best batting average to .500.
Knoche was the winning pitcher in the contest, only giving up two hits in five innings of work. The Roseville native also struck out eight, while walking only one. The defense played solid behind her, committing no errors.
The game started out with a walk for the Dragons, but that was the only opponent runner that would get on until the fourth inning. The Bears retired the next three batters and got on the board early with back-to-back doubles from Hart and Thompson. Schattner then singled, scoring Thompson, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead.
The Bears were shutout in the second, but scored another run in the third, after Carlson doubled down the right-field line and Parsons scored
Kris McIntyre (who was pinch running for Carlson) with a single to right. CSP busted it open in the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits. Thompson started the rally with a single and then stole second base. This allowed her to score on a single from
Haley Schanks. Knoche then doubled to score Schanks and Veenbaas singled to score
Lauren Bartel, who was pinch running for Knoche.
The Bears sealed the win by scoring one more in the bottom of the fifth, as Hart tagged up and scored on Schattner's sac fly. This would put the Bears up 8-0 and ended the game.
CSP plays again tomorrow, February 23
rd, to close out the Dragon Beaver Bash, facing Southwest Minnesota State at 9:30 a.m. and then MSU Moorhead at 11:30. Live stats will be available with the link above.
