MANKATO, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul softball secured a split on opening day of the 2020 season, falling 4-2 to Northwest Missouri State before rallying back from a 4-run deficit to win 6-4 in extra innings against Emporia State on Friday afternoon at the Maverick All-Sports Dome in the inaugural Minnesota State DII Softball Classic.

The Golden Bears will play two more games tomorrow, starting with a 12:30 p.m. contest against Lewis University (Ill.) before a rematch with Emporia State (Kan.) at 5 p.m., concluding the five-game affair on Sunday at 11 a.m. against Northwest Missouri State.

Concordia's pitching staff posted scoreless frames against Central Region lineups from the MIAA in 13 of the 15 innings, but the Bearcats and Hornets each produced a 4-run inning in a competitive opening day of regional softball. In the first game, CSP saw it's 2-0 lead evaporate against a 4-run 5th inning by NW Missouri State, but was able to claw back in game two after the Hornets put up their four runs in the first inning with CSP scoring two runs each in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings.

The freshman class made an immediate impact in the doubleheader as shortstop Hannah Mihalik had a pair of RBIs in each game, combining to go 3-for-8 with four RBIs and a double in her debut. Center fielder Clara Heislen followed up a 1-for-4 first game by going 3-for-4 in game two, driving in a run from the leadoff spot and third baseman Grace Beseman followed up a 1-for-3 debut by going 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored in the second game. Bryanna Olson tossed four no-hit inning in relief in game two to pick up her first career win, striking out five.

GAME ONE: NW Missouri State 4, Concordia 2
Freshman shortstop Hannah Mihalik wasted no time getting Concordia going, delivering a two-run double in her first career plate appearance, scoring Hannah Carlson and Amanda Parsons for an early 2-0 lead in the second inning.

It was a strong start to the season in front of senior right handed pitcher Samantha Sullivan, who struck out five of six batters after allowing (and stranding) a leadoff double in the first inning. She was scoreless through four innings with seven strikeouts, no walks and scattering three hits.

In the fifth, the Bearcats scratched together a pair of hits and a walk to start the inning and would go on to manufacture a pair of runs off a fielder's choice and a ground out, but the big hit was a 2-run double by shortstop Kaitlyn Weis with 1-out.

The closely contested game included CSP getting a shot in the seventh inning, putting runners on first and second base with one out but stranding the tying run at first and winning run at the plate.

Sullivan was credited with the loss, but had a strong season opener until running into trouble in the fifth. She struck out seven across 4.1 innings. Seniors Kali Kaestner (0.2) and Aryka Knoche (2.0) finished the contest, allowing a hit each.

Rachel Smith secured the complete game win for the Bearcats, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

GAME TWO: Concordia 6, Emporia State 4 (8 inn)
The Hornets started hot in game two, plating four runs in the bottom of the inning with four singles, a double, a walk and a sacrifice fly among their eight plate appearances. From there, CSP's pitchers settled into a groove, though, as senior Kali Kaestner faced just one over the minimum between the second and fourth innings thanks to a double play lineout to shortstop Hannah Mihalik in the third and junior catcher Amanda Parsons throwing out a pair of basestealers in the second and fourth innings. She threw out three Hornets attempting to steal in the game.

Concordia got two runs back for Kaestner in the top of the fourth with Mihalik producing a two-out, two-run single to score Hannah Mortenson and Grace Beseman.

Freshman Bryanna Olson relieved Kaestner in the fifth inning, making her debut with four strikeouts among her first six outs recorded including striking out the side in the sixth inning. She mowed down the Hornets the rest of the way, scattering a pair of walks and allowing one ESU batter to reach on error while striking out five across four no-hit frames.

It appeared CSP was on the way to a rally in the fifth inning, still trailing by two, as two of the first three batters reached with singles but the tying run was stranded.

In the sixth, Parsons and Beseman opened the inning with walks and Mihalik reached on error as CSP was able to produce a pair of unearned runs to tie the game at four.

In the eighth, Beseman once again got things going with a leadoff walk and Mihalik followed with her second hit of the game and third of the day. Clara Heislen added a fielder's choice RBI sacrifice bunt and Kris McIntyre gave Olson an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

McIntyre swiped a pair of bases, one in each game, and added the big sacrifice fly in her final plate appearance of the day. Heislen was 3-for-4 with an RBI from the top of the lineup while Mihalik was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs from the eighth spot in the order.

Brylie Bassett took the loss for Emporia State, allowing four runs (two earned) in 2.1 innings of relief while Sydney Righi started and finished the game in the circle, allowing two runs on five hits in 5.2 combined innings.