WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Rachel Novak hit a walk-off two-run home run to give the Concordia-St. Paul softball team (11-4) an extra inning 9-8 victory against Montana State-Billings (6-13-1). The Golden Bears went 1-1 on Tuesday, losing 6-4 to Trevecca Nazarene (13-6) earlier in the day.
CSP was led by junior Danni Sharum with three hits and four RBIs on the day. She hit her second home run of the season against Montana State-Billings. Senior Alexus Houston tallied four hits with two RBIs in total. Freshman Alexis Monty had three hits with an RBI and scored twice.
Junior Erica McCullough improved her record to 7-1 on the season. She pitched all eight innings of the Montana State-Billings game throwing four strikeouts.
The Golden Bears will take a day off on Wednesday before the final four games in Florida on Thursday and Friday. CSP is playing Clarion (Pa.) at 2 p.m. and West Virginia Wesleyan at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
CSP vs Trevecca Nazarene
After Concordia led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Trevecca took the lead with three runs off of three hits. The Trojans scored after a 2RBI double and an RBI single.
After all three batters went out in the sixth inning, CSP needed to rally in the seventh. The Golden Bears loaded the bases with one out, but the last two batters couldn't convert after an infield fly and a flyout to right field.
Concordia fell behind early in the game 2-0. The Golden Bears took a 3-2 lead after RBI singles from Sharum, Houston and junior Sydney Pelzer in the fourth inning. After the Trojans tied the game once again, Houston hit another RBI single to reclaim the lead at 4-3.
Freshman Emmy Bowne picked up the loss putting her record at 4-3 this season. She gave up three earned runs in 6.0 innings pitched. She only walked one batter, but didn't have any strikeouts.
Concordia outhit Trevecca 9-7 but committed three errors compared to only one for the Trojans. The Golden Bears left eight runners on base and the Trojans left three on base. The Trojans hit a double and a home run, which were the only hits other than a single in the game.
CSP vs Montana State-Billings
Novak was the first batter up for Concordia-St. Paul as the team trailed 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning. With junior Avery Johnson placed at second base to start the inning, Novak hit a shot into center field. The crowd knew the ball was gone the moment she made contact.
The Yellowjackets scored the first run of the game before CSP responded with four runs in the bottom of the opening inning. After Monty walked to start the game, sophomore Riley Rosenthal hit a double to put runners on second and third. Senior Clara Heislen hit an RBI single to get the scoring started for the Golden Bears.
After Sharum hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the second run, Houston doubled to put runners on second and third once again. Senior Annalise Scamehorn hit an RBI single to bring in the third run of the game. The Golden Bears scored the fourth run on a wild pitch.
Montana State-Billings scored two runs in the top of the second, cutting the lead to 4-3. The Golden Bears responded with two runs of their own with a two-run home run by Sharum. In the third inning, the Yellowjackets responded with three runs to tie the game at 6-6.
CSP scored a run in the fifth inning via an RBI bunt by Monty. Montana State-Billings tied the game up once again with a run in the sixth inning. The Yellowjackets hit an RBI single to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning.
McCullough improved her record to 7-1 on the season with the victory. She threw four strikeouts with two walks pitching all eight innings.
Concordia outhit Montana State-Billings 13-9 in the contest and each team had one error. CSP left seven runners on base compared to only two for the Yellowjackets. The Golden Bears struck out twice in the game.
This is the second time the Golden Bears have hit a walk-off home run in extra innings this season. Novak tallied her first home run of her career to give the Golden Bears their sixth victory at THE Spring Games.
