MANKATO, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul softball secured a split on opening day of the 2021 season, defeating Minnesota Duluth 9-4, before falling to the Bulldogs 3-0 in game two of the day down in Mankato, Minnesota. 

The Golden Bears will play two more games tomorrow, starting with a 9:30 a.m. contest against Lewis University (Ill.) before turning around and playing Lewis University (Ill.) at 11:30 a.m. which will conclude the four-game opening weekend for the Golden Bears. 

Bryanna Olson performed well today in the circle for the Golden Bears. The sophomore threw a combined four innings, striking out six batters and allowing only two hits on the day. She picked up the victory in the first game by allowing no hits and no runs. She followed that up by keeping the Bulldogs scoreless in her second game of relief and also giving the Golden Bear offense a chance to get back into the game. 

Sophomore Clara Heislen picked up right where she left off last season. The Las Vegas native went a combined 4-6, scoring one run and also driving in a run in the game one victory. Freshman Taylor Griffin made her first collegiate start of her career, picking up her first career collegiate hit and also scoring a run in her debut.

GAME ONE: Concordia-St. Paul 9, Minnesota Duluth 4 
After a scoreless first inning, the Bulldogs struck first in the second inning when they put up one run after a double and a single, Kali Kaestner was able to produce a double play which allowed the Bulldog runner to score. Minnesota Duluth scored again in the top of the third to go up 2-0. 

After the Bulldogs scored two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to increase their lead to 4-0, CSP got the bats going and answered in a big way. After Hanna Mortenson walked and Emma Adamek walked, Meagan Bliese grounded out to first, advancing Mortenson and Adamek. Clara Heislen singled through the left side to score Mortenson and advanced Adamek to third base. Kris McIntyre walked to load up the bases, what followed was a wild pitch, a walk to Grace Beseman, and a big two-run single by Amanda Parsons to tie the game 4-4. 
 
Kali Kaestner got the opening day nod for Concordia, she went five innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on eight hits and striking out three. She kept the Golden Bears in the game and handed the ball off to Bryanna Olson to finish out the game. 
 
The Golden Bear offense exploded in the sixth inning. After a four run fifth inning, CSP pushed five runs across the plate to take a 9-4 lead over the Bulldogs. Hanna Mortenson started it off again as she singled through the left side. She was lifted for a pinch runner in Alexus Houston and she advanced to second on a sac bunt by Taylor Griffin who reached first on the play. Emma Adamek drove in Houston on an RBI single, Meagan Bliese singled scoring Griffin and advancing Adamek to third. That was followed by Heislen being hit by a pitch and McIntyre reaching on a fielder's choice, she advanced to third on a wild pitch and Bliese scored on a throwing error to make it 9-4 Golden bears. 
 
Overall, the Golden Bear offense was sparked by Clara Heislen who went 2-3 with one run and one RBI. Kris McIntyre scored two runs, Amanda Parson went 1-4 with two RBI's, Hanna Mortenson and Taylor Griffin went 1-2 each scoring one run. Emma Adamek went 1-2, scoring two runs and Meagan Bliese went 1-3 with one RBI and scoring one run. 
 
Bryanna Olson closed the door with a one-two-three seventh inning. She was flat out dominant in relief for CSP, she pitched two no-hit innings and struck out four Bulldogs in the process. Olson secured the Golden Bears 9-4 victory and picked up the victory and is now 1-0 on the season.

GAME TWO: Concordia-St. Paul 0, Minnesota Duluth 3
Pitching dominated for the Bulldogs in game two of the doubleheader. Lauren Dixon pitched a complete game shutout victory over the Golden Bears. She allowed only six hits over seven innings, striking out nine Golden Bears while throwing 98 pitches. 
 
Senior Aryka Knoche made her first start in the circle for the Golden Bears. She went four innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out three Bulldogs. She also went 1-3 in the batting lineup for CSP.
 
Minnesota Duluth got on the board early when Lauren Oberle homered off of Knoche in the first inning. That was followed by an RBI double by Jessica Bren to make it 2-0 Bulldogs after one. UMD would produce one more run in the third inning when Emma Frost ripped an RBI double to right center, scoring Jessica Bren to make it 3-0 Minnesota Duluth. 
 
The Golden Bears did put up some threats as the top of CSP's lineup was a combined 4-8. Concordia had two hits in the fourth and then again in the fifth inning, but Lauren Dixon was having a night and she was putting out any fires that the Golden Bears were trying to start. CSP left five runners on base throughout the game. 
 
Bryanna Olson once again pitched well out of the pen for the Golden Bears. She threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out two batters throwing 58 pitches. 
 
Clara Heislen once again led the Golden Bear offense going 2-3 in game two. Kris McIntyre went 1-2, Grace Beseman, Aryka Knoche, and Emma Adamek all went 1-3 in game two.