WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (22-16, 7-9 NSIC) earned their second NSIC sweep of the season, defeating Minnesota Crookston (5-27, 1-9 NSIC) 11-3 and 12-4 on Friday at the West St. Paul Dome. With the wins, the Golden Bears have compiled their most wins in a season since 2013.
GAME 1: Concordia-St. Paul 11, Minnesota Crookston 3
In game one, the Bears hit their way to an 11-3 victory, scoring in five different innings. Both teams scored in the first, with Concordia holding a 3-2 advantage. The Bears tacked on a run in both the third and fourth innings and then three runs in the fifth and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.
The Bears' offense was an active one, recording a season-high 18 hits with ten different players contributing. Senior Nicole Thompson and junior Carlie Hart led the efforts, as Thompson went 4-4 with two runs and Hart ended with three hits, two runs, and an RBI. Thompson also stole two bases throughout the contest.
Sophomore Aryka Knoche, who was the designated player in game one, led the team in RBIs, driving in three runs on a double and triple. Hannah Carlson, who also tallied two hits, was close behind Knoche in RBIs, driving in two runs on a single in the first inning. Lily Langevin was the final Golden Bear to have a multi-hit game, with singles in the third and fifth.
Samantha Sullivan pitched all seven innings for CSP, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out three Crookston batters. With the win, Sullivan improves to 5-4 on the year.
GAME 2: Concordia-St. Paul 12, Minnesota Crookston 4
Both teams had an offensive second game, combining for 23 hits with CSP holding a slight 12-11 edge. The Bears made the most of their opportunities, while capitalizing on four Crookston errors and seven walks to score eight more runs than their opponents.
Concordia trailed 2-1 after the first inning, but used a four-run second inning to take over the lead and they didn't give it up from there, scoring at least one run in four out of the next five innings.
The top of the order carried much of the hitting load, as Hart, Thompson, and Justine Schattner combined for seven hits. Thompson went 4-5 at the plate, extending her current hit streak to 16 games and recording her 15th multi-hit game. The Oakdale native also stole two bases and drove in three runs.
Hart went 3-5 at the plate, hitting a double and a triple, while driving in two runs and Schattner drove in two runs on singles in the fourth and seventh innings.
Knoche earned the win, pitching the first five innings, giving up four runs on 11 hits while striking out two. The sophomore also continued her solid day at the plate going 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Kali Kaestner pitched the final two innings in relief, not allowing a run or a hit.
UP NEXT
After having their weekend doubleheader with Bemidji State cancelled due to poor weather and poor field conditions, the Bears will play next against Sioux Falls. The game is set for Tuesday, April 17th starting at 2 p.m. at Carlander Field.
