CLERMONT, Fla. - Paced by 11 runs in each game, Concordia-St. Paul softball (5-11) picked up a pair of wins, defeating Dominican University (N.Y) 11-3 in six innings before picking up an 11-6 win over Southern New Hampshire on Tuesday at Legends Way Field 5 at THE Spring Games.

Concordia had eight extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases in the two games and combined to leave 12 runners on base, one fewer than in its extra-inning loss on Monday against Lynn.

Rachel Novak was strong at the plate in each game, combining to go 5-8 with three runs, five RBIs and a game-ending two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth against Dominican for the run-rule margin.

Alexis Monty (4-5) and Bryleigh Dana (4-4) each had 4-hit games in the second game victory. Monty combined to go 4-8 with four runs, an RBI, a walk and four stolen bases. Dana did her damage as the game two starting catcher, getting a break for the first game, slugging a double and her third home run of the season with four RBIs. 

GAME 1: Concordia 11, Dominican 3 (6 innings)
Despite spotting Dominican with three unearned runs in the first inning and held scoreless through three frames, Concordia turned on the offense in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings with two in the fourth, six in the fifth and three more in the sixth.

The run support was key as starting pitcher Emmy Bowne settled into a groove, allowing just three hits and three walks through five innings, issuing only the three unearned runs to drop her earned run average to 3.20 as she improved to 2-6. 

In the fourth, freshman Ava Blake led off the inning by drawing a hit by pitch and scored from first base on a double to right center by Sydney Pelzer. After two outs, Makayla Wigern lifted a double to the left center gap to score Pelzer to pull Concordia within a run.

Concordia poured it on in the fifth despite the first two batters being called out before a run crossed the plate, as Alexis Monty drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on Blake's RBI-single up the middle. Later in the inning, Rachel Novak ripped a 2-run single through the right side. The inning also included a bases-loaded walk to Ella Arendt as well as multiple runs scoring on wild pitches. 

In the sixth, the Golden Bears continued to put pressure on Dominican through the run game as Ashlyn Peterson pinch ran for Pelzer, stole second and third and then dashed home on a solid read on a pitch in the dirt. With a runner on, Novak delivered the fatal shot to center for the 11-3 victory.

After Bowne worked the first five innings, Abi Carter came on in relief with an 8-3 lead, pitching a shutout inning while striking out one and allowing one hit to the four batters she faced. 

GAME 2: Concordia 11, Southern New Hampshire 6
Instead of falling behind in the second game of the day, the Golden Bears jumped out to the first lead as Alexis Monty led off the game with a single up the middle, stealing second with two outs and coming in to score on Bryleigh Dana's third homer of the season. 

SNHU answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the inning, however.

Concordia's offense continued its surge in the second inning as Rachel Novak and Katie Klotz started with back-to-back singles, with Novak scoring on Lily Burke's RBI bunt single. Monty followed with an RBI single and would come around to score on a double-steal with a throwing error allowing her to advance from third to the plate. Sidney Pelzer and Dana followed with back-to-back doubles, with Dana producing hers on a seven-pitch at bat for a 7-2 lead.

Although the Penmen got one run back in the bottom of the inning, Tatum Dunlavy would put up back-to-back shutout frames in the third and fourth, with Concordia tacking on a run to pad her lead in the top of the fourth as Pelzer and Dana once again combined to crush SNHU. Pelzer socked a two-out double to right and scored on Dana's single up the middle for a 9-3 lead. 

SNHU picked up one more in the fifth but the Golden Bear lineup continued to pressure SNHU with three more in the sixth with back-to-back bunts to start the inning: a bunt single by Monty and a sacrifice by Rosenthal. Monty then stole third, scoring on Pelzer's sacrifice fly. In an inning that started with a pair of bunts, the Golden Bears would also steal three bases in the inning, also picking up a run on Novak's sharp single off the pitcher for the 11th run and an 11-4 lead.

Abi Carter would pitch the final two frames in relief of Dunlavy, who worked 5.0 innings to even her record at 3-3, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Carter pitched a pair of scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one strikeouts to eight batters, giving her three shutout innings in the two wins. 

The Golden Bears, winners of four of their last five games, are off on Wednesday, and return to Legends Way on Thursday morning against a pair of opponents from Ohio: Ashland and Findlay.