KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Golden Bear softball team (10-5) added another sweep to their Florida trip, defeating Concordia-New York (0-3) and Trevecca Nazarene (11-6). In their first game, Concordia-St. Paul used a late rally to run-rule the Clippers 10-2 in six innings. The second game was a tighter affair, as the Bears held on for a 3-1 win over the Trojans.
 
Junior Aryka Knoche had a massive day for the Golden Bears, going 5-6 on the day while also earning her fifth win on the mound. Four of those five hits were for extra bases, hitting for an impressive 1.667 slugging percentage. She also drove in a team-high four runs between the two games.
 
GAME 1: CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 10, CONCORDIA (NY) 2
In Concordia's first game of the day, the team earned their second run-rule victory of the season, scoring three runs in the sixth to win 10-2. The game featured the first two home runs of the Florida trip for the Golden Bears, as both Carlie Hart and Justine Schattner had homers in the game.
 
As a team, the Golden Bears outhit their opponents 11-4 throughout the contest. This was CSP's sixth game reaching double digit hits on the season, and third time this trip.
 
The top of CSP's order had a big day at the plate, as the first four hitters combined for all of the Bears' RBIs. Hart went 3-3, driving in three runs, while scoring four times herself. Schattner matched Hart in RBIs, going 1-2 with an inside-the-park home run in the sixth, giving the Golden Bears the final two runs needed to end the game in six innings.
 
Knoche had an impressive two-way performance in the contest, earning the win in the circle while also going 3-3 with two doubles and a triple, driving in a pair of runs. To round out the top four, junior Kris McIntyre added two hits, two runs, and an RBI. Sophomores Meagan Bliese and Cam Veenbaas also chipped in with a hit and a run apiece.
 
The Clippers put pressure on Concordia early, as the first runner of the game reached on a walk and the next took advantage of a CSP error to get on base and get in scoring position. Their first run would cross on a grounder to the shortstop, giving the Clippers an early 1-0 lead. Knoche struck out two in the inning, preventing any more damage.
 
CSP answered in the bottom of the inning, taking over the lead. Hart started the inning by getting hit by a pitch and Schattner followed with a walk. This allowed them to score when Knoche hit a double to left center.
 
The Bears tacked on another run in the third when Hart hit a bunt single, stole her way around the bases, and scored easily on a Knoche triple.  
 
Concordia had a breakout inning in the fourth, scoring four runs on five hits all with two outs. Bliese and Veenbaas both singled to start the rally. Hart then came up with a single to right field, scoring both runners. Hart stole second, getting herself in position to score on a McIntyre single. McIntyre then stole third and scored on a Clipper error, finishing out the CSP scoring for the inning.
 
The Clippers got a run back in the sixth, but the Golden Bears responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, which put CSP up by eight, ending the game. Hart started the scoring, hitting a homer to left. This was the team's second home run of the year and Hart's fourth in her career. McIntyre then reached on a bunt single and scored when Schattner hit an inside-the-park home run to right field.
 
With the win, Knoche is now 5-1 on the year. The right-hander struck out a season-high nine batters in the contest, giving up only four hits. This was Knoche's third straight game giving up four hits or less.
 
GAME 2: CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 3, TREVECCA NAZARENE 1
The Golden Bears improved their Florida trip record to 7-1 with their 3-1 win over Trevecca Nazarene in game two of the day. This was the first meeting between the two teams and CSP used six hits and errorless defense to come out on top.
 
Hart, Knoche, and sophomore Amanda Parsons combined for all of the teams' hits, with two apiece. Parsons drove in Knoche in the fourth inning to tie up the game and Knoche drove in CSP's final two runs in the fifth to propel the Golden Bears to victory.
 
Junior Samantha Sullivan earned the win in the circle for the Bears, pitching all seven innings. The Wisconsin native gave up seven hits, but only allowed one runner to cross. This was Sullivan's second straight complete game, as she improves to 3-2 on the season.
 
It was the Trojans who scored first in the contest, using two hits and a stolen base to take a 1-0 lead after the first inning. TNU would hold onto this lead until the fourth inning, when the Bears strung a pair of hits to tie it up. Knoche started the fourth with a double, and advanced to third on the play, allowing her to score when Parsons singled up the middle.
 
The Golden Bears broke the tie the following inning, scoring two additional runs to take a 3-1 lead. Veenbaas started the inning reaching on a Trojan error and Hart followed that up with a bunt single. Schattner walked to load the bases and then Knoche came up with a clutch single through the 5-6 hole which scored Veenbaas and Hart.
 
These runs were all CSP would need, as Sullivan and the defense took care of the rest, not allowing another TNU run to score. The Trojans did have some chances, however, as they stranded a runner on third in the fifth and then left runners on second and third in the seventh.
 
UP NEXT
The Golden Bears conclude their Florida trip with games against Alderson Broaddus and Seton Hill on March 8^th. Game times are set for 8:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. (CST). Follow along with live stats at https://cspbears.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary