UPDATE (3/11/22, 9:38 p.m. central time): The CSP vs WV Wesleyan game was declared a tie at 0-0 in 7 innings as the teams were unable to schedule a time to complete the contest in Florida. All plays in the 8th inning do not count, as CSP did not finish the home half of the inning.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Concordia-St. Paul improved to 10-1 on the year, winning its 10
th straight game on Wednesday morning 9-1 in five innings against Lewis (9-7) at the DiamondPlex as part of THE Spring Games in central Florida. The Golden Bears were trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 8
th inning to West Virginia Wesleyan in game two, but were batting with no outs and a runner on third when the game was suspended due to heavy rain.
The Golden Bears are off to the best start in the program's NCAA Division II history which began in the 2000 season.
Concordia continues play in THE Spring Games on Thursday at 10:10 a.m. against Walsh and 3:45 p.m. against Edinboro (central times) at the Auburndale Sports Complex in Auburndale, Florida.
CSP 9, LEWIS 1 (5 innings)
Concordia's top four hitters all scored two runs each and all reached base at least two times. Concordia opened the game with the first seven batters reaching base, drawing four walks, a hit by pitch and a pair of singles to take a 4-0 lead, with the top of the order setting the tone for the day.
Second hitter
Alexus Houston hit her second home run of the season, a solo home run to leadoff the second inning, her second of the year. She went 2-4 with two runs, an RBI and her third stolen base of the year.
Amanda Parsons went 2-3 out of the cleanup spot with a pair of runs, a pair of RBIs and her fourth double of the year.
Third hitter
Grace Beseman went 2-3 with two runs and an RBI double, and leadoff hitter
Clara Heislen was 1-2 with two runs, two walks and two stolen bases atop the lineup.
Lower in the order,
Sydney Pelzer was 1-2 with two RBIs as production came from all parts of the lineup.
Starting pitcher
Bryanna Olson won her eighth straight decision and seventh straight start to improve to 8-1 on the year. She worked 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits and two walks, striking out four. She allowed a fourth inning home run with one out, the first home run allowed by the team all season while snapping her scoreless inning streak at 21.2 innings.
CONCORDIA 0, WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN 0 (7)
Concordia-St. Paul's game against West Virginia Wesleyan featured more delays (two) than runs scored (one); including extra innings - although the game's only run in the top of the eighth was stricken from the record when the teams were unable to schedule a time to complete the game in Florida.
Prior to the rainout, West Virginia Wesleyan broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, plating the go-ahead international tie-breaker runner with two outs with a seeing-eye single past CSP's outstretched diving shortstop.
In the bottom of the inning, Concordia turned to pinch runner
Halle Bemmels to start the inning on second base. She moved up to third, taking advantage of a 2-0 wild pitch to put
Sydney Pelzer in a strong position to drive in the tying run. With a 3-1 count, the Florida sky opened up, and within 30 minutes, the infield was under water and the outfield began to have pockets of water pooled throughout.
Left handed starting pitcher
Erica McCullough was strong for the Golden Bears, working a complete game shutout in 7.0 innings with five strikeouts. She also fielded her position, inducing and turning a 1-2-3 double play to end a first inning threat, caught a comeback line drive in the third and had a 1-4 putout in the fifth inning.
