CLERMONT, Fla. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (8-5) has now won five of their last six games in Florida, most recently defeating Bloomfield (1-4) and St. Rose (5-5). The Golden Bears used a late rally in the sixth and seventh innings to defeat Bloomfield 7-2 and then used a complete game shutout performance from Samantha Sullivan to defeat St. Rose 6-0.
 
Juniors Kris McIntyre and Hannah Carlson had big days at the plate for CSP. McIntyre tallied a team-high five hits on the day and Carlson drove in a four runs while also racking up three hits.
 
GAME 1: CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 7, BLOOMFIELD 2
A day after recording a season-high 13 hits, the Golden Bear offense exploded for a new season-high, as eight different players combined for 15 hits on their way to a 7-2 win over Bloomfield. Six of those eight Golden Bear players had multiple hits in the contest, being led by McIntyre who had three hits in the game. Carlson, who went 2-3 at the plate, produced the most RBIs, driving in two runs. This was Carlson's third game this season driving in more than one run.
 
In the circle, Kali Kaestner pitched her first complete game of the season, earning the win. The junior gave up two runs on eight hits while striking out five and only walking one. Kaestner is now 1-2 on the year.
 
In the first inning, the Golden Bears strung together four two-out hits to take an early 2-0 lead. Justine Schattner started the rally with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. H. Carlson then came up with her first RBI of the day, driving the ball down the right field line to score Schattner. A single from Makenna Giese moved Carlson to second, which allowed her to score on a single to center from sophomore Meagan Bliese.
 
Bloomfield looked to get on the board themselves in the bottom of the second, but Kaestner pitched out of a bases-loaded jam, forcing two ground outs to get out of the inning. Bloomfield did score in the third inning, however, hitting four straight singles, tying up the game at two runs apiece.
 
CSP did not score again until the sixth inning, although they gave themselves plenty of chances as they had nine runners on base between the second and the sixth innings. In the sixth, Concordia loaded the bases when Cam Veenbaas reached on an error, McIntyre singled, and Schattner walked. H. Carlson hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Veenbaas and putting the Bears up 3-2. Schattner and McIntyre then stole second and third and Schattner scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Giese added her second hit of the day, scoring McIntyre which gave CSP a 5-2 lead.
 
The Golden Bears added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh, compiling four hits in the inning. Sophomore Hanna Mortenson started the inning with her second double of the day, later scoring when Veenbaas singled up the middle. Veenbaas eventually came around to score when McIntyre hit a single to right center. This put Concordia up 7-2 with only a half-inning to play.
 
Bloomfield got a runner on with two outs in the seventh, but Kaestner shut the door with a grounder to shortstop, which Giese fielded for the final out.
 
GAME 2:  CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 6, ST. ROSE 0
In their second game of the day, the Golden Bears recorded their first shutout win of the season with a 6-0 win over St. Rose. Junior right-hander Samantha Sullivan pitched a complete game, improving her record to 3-2 on the year. Sullivan gave up only three hits, while striking out six batters.
 
Concordia outhit their opponents 9-3 in the contest, with McIntyre and Amanda Parsons leading the team with two hits apiece.
 
Parsons got the Bears on the board in the second inning, when she doubled to right field, advanced to third on a Saint Rose error and scored on an additional Golden Knight error.
 
CSP tacked on an additional run in the third. McIntyre led off the inning with a single through the left side, stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored when Parsons singled to deep second base. This put the Bears up 2-0.
 
The game broke open for Concordia in the fifth inning, as the team used three hits, a hit by pitch, and a walk to score their final four runs. Carlie Hart started the inning getting hit by a pitch and then proceeded to steal second base, allowing her to score when McIntyre singled up the middle. Aryka Knoche singled to score McIntyre and H. Carlson later singled up the middle to score both Schattner, who had walked, and Knoche.
 
In the sixth the Golden Knights threatened to score, getting runners on first and second with no outs. But Sullivan and the defense held strong, stranding the runners on second and third. In the seventh, Sullivan retired the Knights in order to secure the win.
 
UP NEXT
The Golden Bears have an off day tomorrow, March 6^th, before returning to action on March 7^th against Trevecca Nazarene and Concordia (N.Y.). The squad will finish out their Florida trip with games on the 8^th against Alderson Broaddus and Seton Hill.