EMPORIA, Kan. - Concordia-St. Paul softball (3-5) split their two games during the second day of the ESU-Classic. This is the second day in a row that the Golden Bears split with their opponents. The Golden Bears defeated Missouri Southern (5-3) 5-4 before falling to Quincy (Ill.) (4-6) 1-0 in the final game of the day.

The Golden Bears will conclude the 2021 ESU-Classic with their final game of the tournament tomorrow morning against Southwest Baptist at 9:30 a.m. No live stats will be available for that game. 

The Golden Bears offense was on display in the first game Clara Heislen hit another home run for her team leading fourth home run on the season. Aryka Knoche hit her first home run of the season and Kali Kaestner pitched her second straight complete game. 

GAME ONE: Concordia-St. Paul 5, Missouri Southern 4
In a back-and-forth battle with the Lions, the Golden Bears found themselves on top once the dust settled. Once again it was Clara Heislen who got things started with a leadoff home run to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After the home run Kris McIntyre was hit by a pitch and advanced to third base on a fielder's choice by Grace Beseman who advanced to second on an error by the pitcher. With runners on second and third, Amanda Parsons knocked in McIntyre with an RBI single to make it 2-0 CSP.
 
The Lions got on the board with a solo shot by Ashlynn Williams in the top of the second inning. Missouri Southern took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when a single and a couple of walks led to Leighton Withers reaching on a fielder's choice and an error which caused two runs to score to make it 3-2 Lions. The Golden Bears answered in the bottom of the fourth inning as Aryka Knoche homered to lead off the inning to make it a 3-3 ballgame. 
 
The Lions retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Ashlynn Williams homered for her second home run of the game to make it 4-3 Missouri Southern. After a quick bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh inning the Golden Bears found themselves trailing in the bottom of the seventh. Taylor Griffin singled with one out which was followed by a single by Meagan Bliese to put runners on second and first with one out. Alexus Houston came into the game pinch run for Taylor Griffin at second base. Clara Heislen singled to score Houston to tie the game 4-4. Kris McIntyre hit a sacrifice fly to score Bliese and win the game for the Golden Bears. 
 
Aryka Knoche started the game for Concordia, she went four innings allowing two hits on four strikeouts, allowing three runs, one earned. She was relieved by Bryanna Olson who went three innings, allowing only one run on two hits and struck out one batter while earning her second win of the season.
 
Clara Heislen led the Golden Bears offense, going 3-4 with one home run, two RBI's and one run scored. Kris McIntyre went 1-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Amanda Parsons went 1-3 with one RBI, Aryka Knoche went 1-2 with a home run and an RBI and a run scored. And Meagan Bliese went 1-3 with one run scored in the Golden Bear victory. 

GAME TWO: Concordia-St. Paul 0, Quincy (Ill.) 1
It was a pitching duel in the second game of the night. Kali Kaestner and MacKenzie Collier were locked in a battle as they each pitched seven innings. Collier allowed only three hits and struck out four Golden Bears in her shutout out victory. Kaestner struck out five, allowed one walk on eight hits and one run while facing 30 Hawk batters.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Hawks jumped on the board in the top of the third inning after a fielder's choice by Bailey Mitchell, Jayle Jennings singled to move Mitchell to second. Then Kari Sarhage singled to left center to drive in Mitchell to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
 
The Golden Bears had a hard time getting anything going against Collier as they only collected a combined three hits in the game. Amanda Parsons and Taylor Griffin both went 1-3 and Ani Bell went 1-1 in the game. 
 
Kali Kaestner moved to 1-1 on the season and currently leads the team with 17 strikeouts in 21 innings on the season.