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Carlie Hart 18 vs SMSU
Mary-Clare Couillard / Concordia Athletics
8
Winner Southwest Minnesota SMSU 7-15, 2-5 NSIC
2
Concordia-St. Paul CSP 17-12, 2-5 NSIC
Winner
Southwest Minnesota SMSU
7-15, 2-5 NSIC
8
Final
2
Concordia-St. Paul CSP
17-12, 2-5 NSIC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southwest Minnesota SMSU 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 8 9 1
Concordia-St. Paul CSP 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 7 2

W: Crank, Shelby (4-4) L: Knoche, Aryka (6-6)

6
Winner Southwest Minnesota SMSU 8-15, 3-5 NSIC
5
Concordia-St. Paul CSP 17-13, 2-6 NSIC
Winner
Southwest Minnesota SMSU
8-15, 3-5 NSIC
6
Final
5
Concordia-St. Paul CSP
17-13, 2-6 NSIC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southwest Minnesota SMSU 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 6 0
Concordia-St. Paul CSP 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 5 6 0

W: Cull, Megan (1-6) L: Sullivan, Samantha (4-2) S: Golling, Athena (2)

Game Recap: Softball | | by Mary-Clare Couillard

Mustangs top Golden Bears on Thursday afternoon

The Mustangs held a 15-13 edge in hits and 14-6 advantage in walks to come away with an NSIC sweep

WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. –  The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (17-13, 2-6 NSIC) fell twice to Southwest Minnesota State (8-15, 3-5 NSIC) on Thursday afternoon at the West St. Paul Dome. The Golden Bear offense, which had recorded 10+ hits in five of their last six games, was held to 13 hits between the two games, tallying seven hits in the first game and six in the second. The Mustangs held a 14-6 advantage in walks on the day, which ended up being critical in the wins.
 
GAME 1: Southwest Minnesota State 8, Concordia-St. Paul 2
Southwest Minnesota State used two big innings to defeat the Bears in game one, scoring four runs in both the fourth and the seventh innings to come away with an 8-2 victory. The Mustangs outhit CSP 9-7, and took advantage of five walks and two Concordia errors to get their runs across.
 
The top of the order led the offense throughout the game, as Carlie Hart, Nicole Thompson, and Justine Schattner combined for five of the team's seven hits. Hart and Thompson had two hits apiece and Schattner was the lone Golden Bear to drive in a run. Pitcher Aryka Knoche and freshman Hanna Mortenson were the other two players to tally a hit in the contest.
 
The Bears were the first to score in the contest, when Hart, Thompson, and Schattner hit three straight singles in the bottom of the third, with Schattner driving in Hart on a line drive to centerfield.
 
The Mustangs answered with force the following inning, scoring four runs on three hits and three walks. Concordia would get one of those runs back, cutting the lead to two, when Knoche scored on a SMSU error on a ball put in play by Haley Schanks.
 
The CSP defense got the Mustangs out 1-2-3 in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Bears were unable to capitalize on offense, leaving two on base in the sixth. Southwest Minnesota State put together another big inning in the seventh, scoring four more on four hits to lead 8-2. The Bears threatened a comeback getting the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, but the Mustang defense did not allow another run, securing the win.
 
Knoche pitched the majority of the game for CSP, striking out a season-high ten batters. Knoche went the first 6.1 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and five walks and would take the loss, falling to 6-6 on the season. Sophomore Kali Kaestner pitched the final 0.2 innings, giving up the final two runs (only one earned) on two hits.
 
GAME 2: Southwest Minnesota State 6, Concordia-St. Paul 5
A five-run second inning helped SMSU to a game-two victory, allowing them to sweep the Bears for the first time since the 2009 season. The Mustangs tacked on another run in the sixth which ended up being the deciding run in the game. Scoring four runs in the sixth got the Bears within one but Southwest Minnesota State held on for the win, retiring CSP 1-2-3 in the seventh.
 
The top of the order continued to perform for the Bears, as Hart, Thompson, and Schattner combined for four hits and each had an RBI. Knoche drove in the other two runs on a left-center double in the sixth.
 
Each team tallied six hits in the game, but SMSU racked up nine walks, compared to CSP's one. Walks were especially costly for the Bears in the second inning, as CSP walked six straight batters, walking the bases loaded and allowing three runs to walk home. The Mustangs hit a two-run homer to start the second, accounting for the other two runs scored that inning.
 
Hart got the Bears on the board, hitting a solo home run to left center in the bottom of the third. This was the junior centerfielder's second home run of the year. The Bears were then held scoreless until the sixth inning, when they would rally for four runs. Sophomore Kris McIntyre started the inning with a single, followed by a Hart double. Thompson and Schattner then singled, each driving in a run. Knoche would cap off the scoring with a double, driving in Thompson and Schattner.
 
Sullivan got the start on the mound and would take the loss, allowing five runs on two hits and five walks, while striking out two. Kaestner came in for Sullivan in relief, pitching the last 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits and four walks, while striking out three.
 
 
UP NEXT
The Bears return to action tomorrow, April 6th, when they will face Minnesota Duluth at West St. Paul Dome at 11 a.m. and will complete the week of conference play against St. Cloud on Saturday, April 7th in St. Cloud. First pitch for that doubleheader is set for 8 a.m.
 
 
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