ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Golden Bears (15-13, 9-5 NSIC) took on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (20-8, 10-4 NSIC) on a beautiful afternoon at Carlander Field. CSP took game one with an impressive pitching performance and game two was a dramatic walk of win. 
 
The Golden Bears will close out the weekend with an afternoon doubleheader against St. Cloud State (17-7, 6-4 NSIC) tomorrow at Carlander Field. 
 
GAME ONE: Concordia-St. Paul 4, Minnesota Duluth 0
The Bulldogs threatened in the top of the first inning by loading the bases, but Kali Kaestner was able to get out of the jam with a big strikeout. The Golden Bears responded with a big bottom of the first inning. After two hits by Clara Heislen and Kris McIntyre, Grace Beseman hit a three-run bomb over the centerfield fence for her eighth home run of the season to give CSP an early 3-0 lead. 
 
Concordia would add another run in the bottom of the third inning. Clara Heislen led off the inning by taking a pitch off her helmet to reach first base, she then stole second and also swiped third. Grace Beseman hit a high fly ball to right center, allowing Heislen to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 Golden Bears.
 
That would be all that Kali Kaestner would need as she went on to pitch a complete game shutout going seven innings, allowing only three hits and 10 strikeouts as she moved to 6-4 on the season. She stranded seven runners on base throughout the game. 
 
Grace Beseman led the offense going 2-2 with a run scored, four RBI's including a three-run home run and a double. Clara Heislen went 1-2 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Kris McIntyre went 1-3 with a run scored, and Hanna Mortenson went 1-3.
 
GAME TWO: Concordia-St. Paul 9, Minnesota Duluth 8
It didn't take Minnesota Duluth long to get on the board in game two. In the first inning leadoff hitter Lauren Oberle hit a home run to right field, it was her seventh home run of the season and it gave UMD an early 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs were not done yet, after a couple of hits Emma Frost hit a two-run single to left field, giving Minnesota Duluth a 3-0 lead over the Golden Bears
 
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. After a quick first out, Emma Frost hit an infield single, then Julia Gronholz doubled to right field to make it second and third with one out. After a groundout back to Knoche, Kelly Swank singled up the middle to score both Frost and Gronholz to make it 5-0 UMD.
 
The Golden Bears would get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jacey Defries led off with a one out single, she then advanced to second base one a wild pitch. Amanda Parsons hit a rope to center field for a single, advancing Defries to third base. Hanna Mortenson reached on a fielder's choice as Parsons was out at second. Cam Veenbaas would double, scoring Defries and advancing Mortenson to third. Hannah Mihalik would pinch run for Veenbaas and Meagan Bliese hit a two-run single to right center to make it a 5-3 game. 
 
Minnesota Duluth would answer in the top of the fifth inning. Jordyn Thomas led off the inning with a solo shot to center field, her seventh home run of the season to make it a 6-3 game. Jessica Bren followed that up with a single and then she stole second base. After a ground out that advanced Bren to third base there was a walk and a stolen base which allowed Julia Gronholz to hit a sacrifice fly and make it 7-3. UMD would add one more run on an RBI single by Sidney Zavoral to make it 8-3. 
 
The Golden Bears would come back fighting as they scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Grace Beseman led off with a single and then the pitcher Bryanna Olson reached on an error, allowing Beseman to go to second. Jacey Defries then singled to left field, loading the bases. Amanda Parsons reached on a fielder's choice as Beseman was thrown out at home. Hanna Mortenson then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Olson and making it 8-4. Cam Veenbaas walked to reload the bases and Meagan Bliese hit a two-run single up the middle, scoring Parsons and Defries to make it 8-6. 
 
Concordia would make it dramatic in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jacey Defries led off the inning with a single up the middle, Amanda Parsons stepped up and hit a huge game tying two-run home run to right field, her fourth home run of the season. Hanna Mortenson singled to left field, she would advance to second base on a wild pitch and then Cam Veenbaas singled to left, advancing Mortenson to third base to make it first and third with no one out. Meagan Bliese came to the plate and she sent the Golden Bears home on a walk off single to right center to win the game 9-8.
 
Kali Kaestner picked up her second victory of the day, pitching one inning, allowing two hits and striking out three batters. Aryka Knoche started the game for CSP, she went four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out three batters. Bryanna Olson pitched two innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out one. 
 
Meagan Bliese led the Golden Bear offense going 3-4 with five RBI's. Cam Veenbaas went 3-3 with an RBI, Hanna Mortenson was 1-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, Amanda Parsons went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Jacey Defries went 3-4 with two runs scored and Clara Heislen, Kris McIntyre, and Grace Beseman each collected a hit.