VIERA, Fla. — The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (11-10, 0-0 NSIC) grabbed a pair of wins in comeback fashion at the Space Coast Games this afternoon. Using a four run seventh inning to take down Thomas More, 7-5 in game one before erasing a 2-1 deficit in game two, walking off Palm Beach Atlantic, 3-2.
Danni Sharum had the big swing in both games, hitting a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning against Thomas More to give CSP a 7-5 lead before coming up with a walkoff RBI double to right center against the Sailfish in game two.
The senior catcher collected three hits in eight trips to the plate, with two of those being extra base knocks, while driving in three runs. Alexis Monty notched three hits in seven trips to the plate and drew one walk. Nora Brandt had four hits in six at bats, with one double. Katie Klotz turned in a 3-for-4 performance in game one, scoring one run.
Abi Carter grabbed the win in game one, after tossing 4.0 innings in relief, giving up no earned runs and two hits with two strikeouts to improve to 2-1 on the year. Tatum Dunlavy turned in another solid start in the circle, tossing a complete game, giving up two earned runs and 10 hits with four punchouts to improve to 5-4 on the year.
The Golden Bears will wrap up play at the Space Coast Games with two tomorrow. Taking on Palm Beach Atlantic at 1:30 p.m. before closing things out against Rockhurst with first pitch set for 3:45 p.m.
Game One: CSP 7, TMU 5
A RBI single up the middle got the Saints on the board in the early going. Neither team could get anything going in the second as the game remained 1-0.
Thomas More put up a crooked number in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs on five hits in the innings to take a 5-0 lead.
The five run lead remained until the top of the fifth, when three straight singles put the Golden Bears in business, loading the bases with no outs. Gabby Martinez drew a four pitch walk to get CSP on the board, plating another on a Ashlyn Peterson RBI fielder's choice before Alexis Monty lined a single down the left field line to get CSP back within two.
Abi Carter worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth, inducing an inning ending double play on a flyout to left. Lily Burke nabbed the Saints runner on a tag attempt from second base to end the inning.
Alexis Monty got the seventh inning rally started with a two out double to left center, two Saints errors allowed CSP to tie things up at five. Danni Sharum strode to the plate and promptly hammered a 0-1 pitch to center field to give CSP a 7-5 lead.
The Golden Bears closed things out in the bottom half of the inning to grab a 7-5 win.
Game Two: CSP 3, PBA 2
CSP struck first in game two, plating the game's first run on a Riley Rosenthal stolen base that forced an errant throw by the Sailfish third baseman that allowed Lily Burke to score from third.
Tatum Dunlavy held the Sailfish off the board in each of the first four innings, working around two Palm Beach runners in scoring position in the fourth to maintain the one run lead.
PBA took the lead in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly and a go-ahead RBI single through the left side of the infield. Dunlavy retired the side in order in the sixth to keep CSP within one.
Ava Blake led off the sixth with a hit by pitch, later coming around to score on a Sailfish throwing error to tie things up at two.
Lily Burke got things started in the seventh with a leadoff single through the left side of the infield. Danni Sharum came up with the big swing once again, lining a 3-0 pitch off the right center field fence to send home Burke and walk off the Sailfish 3-2.
