EMPORIA, Kan. - Concordia-St. Paul softball (2-4) split their first day of the ESU Softball Classic. The Golden Bears showed off their offense and pitching in the first game as they defeated Missouri-St. Louis (3-5), 6-2. In the second game the Golden Bears could not match their offense in the first game as they fell to the host school, Emporia State (6-1), 3-1. 

The Golden Bears will be back in action tomorrow evening for day two of the ESU-Classic. Concordia will play Missouri Southern at 3 p.m. and Quincy (Ill.) at 5:30 p.m. Live stats will not be available for the two games tomorrow. 

The Golden Bears pitching was impressive in day one of the ESU-Classic. Kali Kaestner threw a complete game victory over UMSL, she struck out eight batters and earned her first win of the season. Bryanna Olson threw an impressive game against the Hornets in game two of the day. She pitched six solid innings, allowing only three runs and struck out six batters. Clara Heislen hit two home runs on the day and now leads the team with three home runs on the season. 

GAME ONE: Concordia-St. Paul 6, Missouri – St. Louis 2
CSP got off to a fast start in game one of the ESU-Classic. Center fielder Clara Heislen led off with a single, she was then driven in with an RBI double by senior Kris McIntyre to give Concordia a 1-0 lead. The Golden Bears displayed great two out hitting in the second inning. After two quick outs to start the inning, Meagan Bliese singled to center field and then Clara Heislen flexed her muscles with a two-run home run to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 over the Tritons. 
 
UMSL got themselves on the board in the top of the third inning. After two straight singles, Anna VanGundy scored on an error to make it a 3-1 game. After a failed stolen base attempt by Morgan Barnoski, she was caught in a run down between second and first, which caused Annie Scaramuzzi to score and make it a 3-2 ballgame. CSP would answer back in the bottom of the inning, Hanna Mortenson singled which scored Amanda Parsons and Taylor Griffin was able to score as well on a throwing error by the Tritons centerfielder to make it 5-2 Golden Bears.
 
The Golden Bears plated one more run in the bottom of 5^th when Amanda Parsons tripled to lead off the inning and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Griffin. 
 
Senior Kali Kaestner was dominant in her complete game victory. Both of the Tritons runs were unearned and she shut down UMSL for the last four innings of the game. She struck out eight batters on 105 pitches, walking one and allowing nine hits in her first victory of the season.  
 
Clara Heislen continued to lead the Golden Bears offense, she went 2-4 with two runs, hit her second home run of the season and drove in two RBI's while stealing a base. Kris McIntyre went 1-3 with a double and a RBI, Amanda Parsons was 1-1 with a triple and scored two runs, Hanna Mortenson went 1-3 with an RBI, Meagan Bliese went 1-3 with a run scored and Emma Lero had a pinch hit single. 

GAME TWO: Concordia-St. Paul 1, Emporia State 3
Once again, the Golden Bears jumped out to an early lead, this time by a leadoff home run from Clara Heislen to give CSP a 1-0 lead in the first inning. CSP threatened with three more hits in the inning but Kelsey Phillips and the Emporia defense splashed cold water on the Golden Bears threat. Emporia State responded in the bottom of the first. After a hit and a walk, Roni Raines drove in both runs with a two-run single up the middle to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead over CSP. 
 
It was a pitching duel the rest of the way as both Bryanna Olson and Kelsey Phillips put up zeros after the first inning. The Hornets were able to get to Olson for another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Roni Raines hit a leadoff home run to give Emporia a 3-1 lead over Concordia. The Golden Bears could not strike up a rally after Emma Lero's two out pinch hit double in the top of the seventh inning, the Hornets closed out the game out and defeated CSP 3-1.  

Bryanna Olson went six good innings, she allowed only three runs on five hits, walked four and struck out six of the 27 batters she faced. Even though she kept CSP in the fight, the Golden Bear offense could not even the score and Olson moved to 1-2 on the season. 
 
Clara Heislen went 1-3 with a home run and a RBI and a run scored, Kris McIntyre and Amanda Parsons both went 1-3, Aryka Knoche led the team with two hits going 2-3, Ani Bell went 1-2 and Emma Lero had a pinch hit double in the seventh inning.