ST. PAUL, Minn. – After recording their first conference sweep of the season, the Concordia-St. Paul softball team (17-11, 2-4 NSIC) is getting ready for six more NSIC games, facing Southwest Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State this week.
 
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Head coach Bob Bartel has recently announced some schedule changes for this week. Due to the field conditions on Carlander Field, CSP will be moving all of this week's games into a dome. The Southwest Minnesota State doubleheader had already been moved inside, and now the Bears will also face Minnesota Duluth in the West St. Paul Dome. Due to availability of the dome, the Bears will play UMD on Friday, April 6^th at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The St. Cloud State doubleheader has been moved to the Husky Dome in St. Cloud and will be played on Saturday, April 7^th at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Check the schedule page for the latest updates on live stat and video stream links.

LAST TIME OUT
The Bears finished their first week of NSIC play with a 2-4 record, falling twice to #14 Minnesota State and Augustana, but defeating Wayne State to close out the week. The offense was particularly active against the Wildcats, as the Bears outhit their opponents 26-10 while recording a .441 team batting average. 
 
In the first game of the Wayne State doubleheader, the Bears recorded 14 hits on their way to a season-high 13 runs. Samantha Sullivan pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only four hits, to help CSP to the 13-0 five inning victory. Kali Kaestner would earn her seventh win of the season in the second game, pitching 3.2 scoreless innings. The offense came through again, using a five-run fifth inning to propel them to a 7-4 win.
 
Amanda Parsons had a doubleheader to remember against WSC, hitting her first three collegiate homeruns on her way to driving in a massive eight runs to help the Bears get the sweep. The freshman catcher registered 14 total bases throughout the two games, for a 1.750 slugging percentage.
 
Carlie Hart also had a solid day at the plate, going 5-7 (.714) with a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI. Hart has now recorded at least one hit in 26 out of the team's 28 games so far this season, with 15 of those being multi-hit games.
 
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE SERIES HISTORY
Concordia owns a 22-25 all-time series record against SMSU since starting to play them in 2000. In their past eight doubleheaders, the Bears and Mustangs have split in all eight, with ten of the last 16 games being decided by three runs or less. When playing at neutral sites, as they will this week, the Bears are 5-2 against Southwest Minnesota State.
 
LAST MEETING WITH SMSU
Concordia has already faced the Mustangs earlier this year, playing them in a nonconference game at West St. Paul Dome on February 23^rd. The Bears came out on top in this meeting, by a score of 6-2. CSP got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead when Hart stole third and scored on a throwing error. The Mustangs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but the Bears answered with a four-run bottom of the inning. Concordia would add another run in the fifth, helping them to win by four.
 
Sophomore right-hander Aryka Knoche pitched all seven innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five to earn the win. Senior Nicole Thompson led the offensive efforts in the game, going 3-4 with a pair of RBIs. Hart and freshman infielder Cam Veenbaas also chipped in, each recording two hits and two runs scored.
 
 
MINNESOTA DULUTH SERIES HISTORY
Against Minnesota Duluth, the Bears have a 21-30 all-time record. The Bulldogs have been more successful recently, winning the past five matchups. Concordia last defeated Duluth in March of 2015, winning 5-4 in Duluth. When playing at a neutral site, the Bears own a 12-13 record against the Bulldogs.
 
 
LAST MEETING WITH UMD
CSP last faced Minnesota Duluth during their Spring Games schedule in Clermont Florida this March. In that game, the Bears were on the losing end of a 6-3 decision, as the Bulldogs used two three-run innings to earn the victory.
 
Hart led the offense, going 3-4 with a double and an RBI. Knoche and sophomore Hannah Carlson also had multi-hit games, each recording two hits in the contest. Kaestner took the loss on the mound, pitching the last 2.1 innings, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out three.
 
 
ST. CLOUD STATE SERIES HISTORY
The Bears and the Huskies have a close series record, with CSP holding a slight edge at 20-18. In conference play, the two teams are an even 9-9. In the middle of their series history, the Bears won 11 straight in 2007 till 2011, but St. Cloud State has had more success in recent years, winning five of the last six matchups.  When playing in St. Cloud, the Bears are 11-7 against the Huskies.
 
 
LAST MEETING WITH SCSU
The Golden Bears lost two close games in their doubleheader against St. Cloud last year. In the first game, CSP's comeback attempt fell just short as they rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning, but were unable to get another run across, going on to lose 5-4. Liz Jarosz drove in all four of Concordia's runs, as she went 3-3 with a pair of home runs. Linzy Heim took the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks.
 
In game two, the Bears held a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Huskies came up with a walk-off grand slam to win it 11-7. Jarosz hit another home run in this game, this time a grand slam, giving Concordia a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Hart tallied three hits in the loss, while also driving in a run. Justine Schattner and Lily Langevin also had a good day at the plate, each recording two hits. Sullivan took the loss, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on ten hits and five walks, while striking out four.