ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (15-12, 4-0 NSIC) capped off a 4-0 start to NSIC play with two come-from-behind wins over Minot State (16-12, 1-3 NSIC) at the Husky Dome on Sunday afternoon.
CSP erased a two run ninth inning deficit in game one, walking off Minot State in extra innings on a sacrifice bunt to secure a 3-2 win. In game two the Golden Bears trailed 3-2, before scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a three run lead, going on to win 6-4 and secure the doubleheader sweep.
Nora Brandt notched three hits in seven trips to the plate, with a double and a run scored. Bryleigh Dana put together a 2-for-3 in game two, smacking a double and driving in three runs.
Emmy Bowne tossed the full 9.0 innings in game one, giving up 10 hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts to earn the win, moving to 6-6 in the circle this season. Tatum Dunlavy started game two and went 4.0 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs, Abi Carter came on in relief and pitched 2.1 innings, giving up one earned run, grabbing the win and moving to 4-1 on the season.
Game One: CSP 4, MiSU 3 (9 Inn.)
After both sides went hitless in the opening two innings, the Beavers got the third inning started with a leadoff walk, plating the game's first run on a fielder's choice to take a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth Alexis Monty lined a single to left field, notching the game's first hit but she was later cut down trying to steal second. Minot came up with a pair of two out singles in the fifth, but Emmy Bowne induced an inning ending groundout to get out of danger.
The Golden Bears first rally came in the bottom of the sixth, after Ava Blake led off the inning with a hit by pitch followed by a Haley Knoblauch single and a Abi Carter walk loaded the bases with no outs. Monty tied the game on a deep fly ball to center, plating Blake and tying the game at one.
Neither side plated a run in the seventh or the first extra frame, but Minot broke through in the top of the ninth. Plating two runs on a RBI double to the right center gap and a solo home run to go up 3-1.
CSP rallied once more in the bottom half of the inning, getting things started with a Danni Sharum walk and Nora Brandt single to right. Ava Blake shot a single down the third base line to get the Golden Bears back within one, Rylie Rasmussen pinch hit and lined an RBI double to the left center gap, tying the game at three.
With the winning run 60 feet away, Ashlyn Peterson laid down a bunt, plating the winning run to secure the 3-2 comeback win.
Game Two: CSP 6, MiSU 4
Minot struck first once again in game two, scoring the opening run on a wild pitch to go up 1-0. The Beavers tacked on another in the top of the fourth, on an RBI single through the left side of the infield to take a 2-0 lead.
Lily Burke drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the fourth, later coming around to score on a Katie Klotz RBI single up the middle to get CSP on the board. Bryleigh Dana shot a RBI single up the middle later in the inning to knot things up at two.
A leadoff single put Minot in business once again, with the go ahead run coming around to score on an error.
Down one in the bottom of the sixth the Golden Bears rallied once again, Riley Rosenthal led off the inning with a walk followed by Nora Brandt lining a double down the left field to put two runners in scoring position. Dana shot a double down the left field line plating two runs to put CSP in front 4-3.
The Golden Bears continued to add on with a Danni Sharun RBI single through the left side of the infield, plating another run on a wild pitch to go up 6-3.
Minot threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases and bringing the go ahead run to the plate. Emmy Bowne came on in relief and got the final two outs, recording the save and securing a 6-4 win and the doubleheader sweep.
