ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (13-12, 2-0 NSIC) opened up NSIC play with a doubleheader sweep of UMary (10-14, 0-2 NSIC) at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud this afternoon. Alexis Monty provided an offensive spark at the plate going 4-for-5 across both games with two triples and two RBI, while making a number of key plays on defense to help the Golden Bears to a doubleheader sweep of the Marauders.
Riley Rosenthal notched three hits in six trips to the plate, to bring her team leading average to .386 to start the season.
Emmy Bowne got the win in the circle in game one, going the full seven innings, while giving up no earned runs on six hits, with five strikeouts to improve to 5-6 on the year. Tatum Dunlavy toed the rubber in game two, going 3.1, giving up no earned runs and one hit. Abi Carter came on in relief and tossed 3.2 innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits, grabbing the win and improving to 3-1 on the season.
The Golden Bears are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they take on Minot State in a doubleheader at the Husky Dome, with start times slated for 2 and 4 p.m.
Game One: CSP 4, UMary 0
After working around a leadoff single in the top of the first, the Golden Bear bats got to work in the bottom half of the inning. Immediately loading the bases on a hit by pitch, fielder's choice and Riley Rosenthal single, followed by Nora Brandt shooting an RBI single to right to give CSP the game's first lead.
Katie Klotz followed with a two RBI single to make it 3-0, as Gabby Martinez capped the inning with another RBI single to grow the CSP lead to four. In total 10 Golden Bears came to the plate, putting up a four spot to take control of the game in the early going.
Emmy Bowne continued to be in control in the circle, working around a two out single to right in the third to keep the Marauders off the board. Bowne continued to toss scoreless frames for CSP, allowing scattered singles and stranding a leadoff Marauder double in the fifth.
The junior hurler continued to make quick work of the UMary lineup, stranding runners in the sixth and seventh innings to secure the 4-0 CSP win.
Katie Klotz put together a 2-for-3 performance in game one, driving in two of the Golden Bears three runs. Riley Rosenthal collected two hits as well, notching her 10th multi-hit performance of the season. Nora Brandt and Gabby Martinez each had one hit and an RBI in the four run victory.
Game Two: CSP 3, UMary 0
Alexis Monty got the Golden Bears in business to start the bottom of the first lining a leadoff triple off the left field wall, but she was unable to score as the game remained tied in the early going.
In the bottom of the second Bryleigh Dana got things going, dropping a one out double down the right field line. Amanda Barnacle came into pinch run and promptly swiped third base, but was cut down at home on a grounder to the Marauder shortstop.
A costly UMary throwing error put two Golden Bears in scoring position with two out. Monty strode to the plate and lined another triple to left off the outstretched arm of the UMary left fielder, plating two runs to give CSP the game's first lead.
Dunlavy held the Marauders off the board in the second, inducing an inning ending double play after a one out single.
UMary threatened once more in the fourth after a pair of walks and a wild pitch put two runners on with one out. Abi Carter took the circle in relief of Dunlavy, inducing a grounder to short to grab the second out of the inning. Both runners advanced on the play, as Carter forced another grounder and Alexis Monty made a diving backhand stab at short, coming up with a perfect throw to first, ending the inning and preserving the 2-0 CSP lead.
In the bottom of the fifth Monty notched her third hit of the game on an infield single, swiping second, before Lily Burke lined a triple to the right center gap, plating Monty and putting CSP up three.
Abi Carter made quick work of the Marauders, retiring the side in order in each of the final two innings to secure the 3-0 win and the sweep. The CSP staff allowed just three hits in game two, with just one of those going for extra bases.
Monty's 3-for-3 powered the CSP offense that came up with four extra base hits including three triples in the win. Bryleigh Dana put together a 2-for-3 at the plate, smacking one double and throwing out a runner on defense.
