ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Golden Bear softball team (8-8, 2-0 NSIC) played in their 2021 home opener at Carlander Field against UMary (1-16, 0-4 NSIC). The Golden Bears started their short home stand on a good note as they completed the double header sweep of the Marauders to open up conference play.
 
The Golden Bears will be back at Carlander Field tomorrow for their matchup against Minot State (9-8, 2-1 NSIC). CSP will then hit the road next week with games at Upper Iowa on Wednesday, Augustana on Saturday and then finishing their road trip at Wayne State on Sunday. 
 
The Golden Bears hit four home runs in the two games as the wind was gusting out to left field. Grace Beseman hit her team leading fifth home run of the season in game one, Taylor Griffin hit her first collegiate home run of her career in game one, and Meagan Bliese hit her second home run of the season in game one. In game two against UMary, Amanda Parsons hit her second home run of the season and Alexus Houston collected her first collegiate career hit which was a double in game two against the Marauders.
 
GAME ONE: Concordia-St. Paul 6, UMary 2
The Marauders were the first ones to strike in game one. In the bottom of the second inning Madelynn Trout hit a solo home run to left field with two outs to give UMary a 1-0 lead early. Concordia would respond quickly in the bottom half of the inning as Taylor Griffin homered to left center to tie the game up 1-1. 
 
The Golden Bears would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Grace Beseman launched a leadoff home run to left field to make it 2-1 CSP. The Marauders would even it up in the top of the fifth. It started with a leadoff single by Kasidy Chileen, she then advanced to second on a wild pitch, Mikaela Pelesauma singled, advancing Chileen to third. The Marauders then pulled off a double steal, Pelesauma swiped second and Chileen took home to tie the game 2-2. 
 
CSP would retake the lead after Meagan Bliese hit a one out solo home run to left field to give Concordia a 3-2 lead. The Golden Bears were not done as Clara Heislen was hit by a pitch, she then stole second, a batter later Grace Beseman smoked a ball to left field, scoring Heislen and increasing the Golden Bear lead to 4-2. 
 
Concordia would tack on two more in the bottom of the sixth inning, Ani Bell pinch hit for Jacey Defries and singled to right field, she was lifted by Alexus Houston as a pinch runner. Amanda Parsons laid down a bunt single, advancing Houston to second. Taylor Griffin reached on a fielder's choice as Parsons was out at second and Houston advanced to third. After Griffin stole second, Bliese came through again with a double down the right field line scoring both Houston and Griffin to make it 6-2.
 
Bryanna Olson set down the Marauders in order in the top of the seventh inning to secure the 6-2 Golden Bear victory. Aryka Knoche started the game for Concordia, she went five innings, striking out eight on seven hits and two earned runs while earning her first win of the season. Bryanna Olson pitched two innings without allowing a hit, walked one and struck out five batters to earn her first save of the season.
 
Grace Beseman led the offense going 3-3 with two RBI's and a run scored. Meagan Bliese went 2-3 with three RBI's and a run scored. Clara Heislen went 1-3 with one run scored, Ani Bell was 1-1, Amanda Parsons went 1-2 with a walk, and Taylor Griffin was 1-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. 
 
GAME TWO: Concordia-St. Paul 7, UMary 1
In game two it was the Golden Bears who struck first early. After a one out single by Kris McIntyre, she stole second and Grace Beseman drove her in on a double to center field to make it 1-0 CSP.
 
Concordia followed that up with a massive second inning. It started with a leadoff home run by Amanda Parsons to make it 2-0. Then Hanna Mortenson singled to center and stole second, Clara Heislen walked with two outs to make it first and second, Kris McIntyre singled to center, scoring Mortenson and advancing Heislen to second. Grace Beseman came through again with a big two run double down the left field line to make it 5-0. After Aryka Knoche reached on an error which caused Beseman to advance to third, there was a wild pitch by Nicole Eckhardt allowing Beseman to score and make it 6-0 CSP.
 
The Marauders would get on the board in the top of the fourth inning after Madelynn Trout singled to center, Devyn Ritz then doubled to center, scoring Trout and making it 6-1. The Golden Bears would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Meagan Bliese hit an infield single, Alexus Houston pinch hit for Clara Hesilen and she doubled to right center which advanced Bliese to third base. Kris McIntyre then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bliese and making it 7-1.
 
That was all Kali Kaestner needed to finish out her terrific pitching performance. She set down the Marauders on a terrific double play by Beseman and struck out the final batter to earn the complete game victory. She went seven innings, struck out seven batters allowing one run on seven hits and moved to 4-3 on the season. 
 
Grace Beseman once again led the Golden Bear offense going 2-4 with a run scored and three RBI's. Kris McIntyre went 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Amanda Parsons went 2-3 with a run scored and one RBI. Hanna Mortenson went 1-2 with a run scored, Meagan Bliese went 1-2 with a run scored, Afton Zemke and Alexus Houston each went 1-1.