ROCHESTER, Minn. – In day two of the NSIC Playoff Tournament, the Concordia-St. Paul softball team (33-20) fell to both #16 Augustana (49-8) and St. Cloud State (43-15) in Rochester to be eliminated from postseason play.
 
The Golden Bears finished the year with a 33-20 record, which ties the most wins in a season since 2012. This was the second straight year that the Bears had won 30 games or more, and also the team's highest winning percentage (.623) in the past five years.
 
The day was highlighted by a strong pitching performance from junior Kali Kaestner, as she gave up zero earned runs against one of the top-hitting teams in the NSIC. Senior Carlie Hart paced the offense going 3-7 (.429) at the plate and senior Justine Schattner tied the all-time RBI record (141) when she drove in a run against St. Cloud State.
 
GAME 1: AUGUSTANA 1, CONCORDIA 0
In their first game of the day the Golden Bears saw their 11-game winning streak come to a close with a 1-0 loss against #16 Augustana. This was only the third time this season that Concordia has been held scoreless.
 
Kaestner had an impressive pitching outing for CSP, giving up no earned runs in her six innings pitched. Kaestner allowed five hits in the contest while also striking out five, holding the Vikings (who lead the conference in batting average) to a .217 average throughout the game. She has now had six consecutive starts allowing two runs or less.
 
Each of the top four batters for CSP had a hit in the game, with Hart extending her hitting streak to 16 straight games. Kris McIntyre, Schattner, and Hannah Carlson also had hits for the Bears.
 
It was Augustana who would score first in the game, capitalizing on a CSP error in the first inning to get a runner on. That runner then stole second and was driven in by a single to left.
 
The Bears looked to answer in the top of the second when they loaded the bases. Carlson first reached on an error, sophomore Amanda Parsons walked, and freshman Emma Adamek was hit by a pitch. The Vikings defense held strong, however, recording the final out of the inning to maintain their 1-0 lead.
 
Kaestner retired Augie 1-2-3 in the second, including striking out two batters. In the top of the third, CSP once again had another good chance to tie it up, as McIntyre hit a line shot to center to get on base with only one out. Schattner followed that up with a double to the left center gap, and McIntyre was going to go first to home on the play, but Augustana came up with a quick relay to get her out at the plate.
 
The Vikings also threatened to score in the third, getting runners on second and third with only one out. Kaestner got the Bears out of it, though, as she struck out the next batter and forced a pop out to third to end the inning.
 
Concordia stranded another Augie runner on third base in the fifth inning, as Hart caught a line drive to end the rally. In the sixth, McIntyre turned a double play, catching a fly ball and then throwing out an Augie runner at the plate to end the inning and keep the game within one heading into the final inning.
 
The Bears could not get much offense going in the seventh, as pitcher Ashley Mickschl retired Concordia in order to earn her 24^th win of the season.
 
GAME 2: ST. CLOUD STATE 5, CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 3
With the loss to Augustana, the Golden Bears moved to the elimination side of the bracket, next facing St. Cloud State. This was CSP's third meeting with the Huskies this season, with SCSU coming out on top 5-3.
 
The game went back-and-forth for much of the first few innings, but the Huskies scored two runs in the fifth, which the Bears were unable to answer which ended up being the difference in the game.
 
Hart was the only Golden Bear to acquire multiple hits in the game, ending her senior season with a 17-game hit streak. Schattner, Carlson, and Cam Veenbaas all had a hit and an RBI in the contest as well. Hits from Schattner and Carlson extended their hitting streaks to eight straight games.
 
The Bears scored right away in the first inning, using a familiar formula, with Hart getting on base, stealing second, and Schattner driving her in. The Huskies answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning as the first two batters reached and were driven in by a double from Jasmin Estrada.
 
Concordia tied it up at two apiece in the third, as McIntyre doubled and later scored on a single from Carlson. The Bears then took over the lead in the fourth when Parsons scored on a single from Veenbaas, but SCSU tied it right back up with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, making it 3-3.
 
Three hits for the Huskies in the fifth was enough for them to get two additional runs across, giving them a 5-3 lead, which they were able to hold onto for the rest of the game.
 
Samantha Sullivan started in the circle for the Golden Bears, pitching the first 4.2 innings. The junior righty gave up five runs on eight hits to move to 13-9 on the season. Kaestner pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, not allowing a hit.
 
Hart will graduate as Concordia's all-time leader in hits (265) and runs (167) while also holding single season records in hits, runs, batting average, total bases, and stolen bases. The Lake Elmo native was a two-time All-NSIC First Team selection as well as being named to two All-Region Second Teams in 2018. She also has the third best career batting average (.375) of any CSP player in program history.
 
Schattner finishes her career as a Golden Bear tied for the most RBIs of any player in CSP history (141) and fourth on the all-time hits list (238). She had a breakout senior season with career highs in almost every statistical category, including average, hits, doubles, RBIs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. Schattner also was a two-time All-NSIC honoree, being named to the First Team this season.
 
Makenna Giese, who had her season cut short due to an injury, also graduates with Hart and Schattner, helping the Golden Bears to back-to-back trips to the NSIC Tournament. Giese appeared in 105 games throughout her career, hitting for a .272 average. This season, Giese anchored the defense at shortstop, compiling a .932 fielding percentage while also tallying 23 hits and 11 RBIs.