(Livonia, MI) – Concordia softball continued WHAC conference play with a doubleheader against rival Madonna. The Cardinals entered 25-15 overall and 11-7 in the WHAC while Madonna came in 27-11 overall with a 13-3 WHAC conference mark. The first game of the series was completed last Thursday with the Crusaders handing the Cardinals an 8-6 loss in a close match. The second game was suspended due to rain and completed on Monday afternoon with Madonna claiming another tight 3-2 win.
Game 1 – Madonna 8, CUAA 6
The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead, scoring 7 runs in the bottom half of the 1st inning. Kara Gehrke came on to pitch midway through the inning and eventually secured the final two outs.
The Cardinals began to rally with 5 runs in the top of the 2nd. Kali Hill started things off with an RBI single scoring Megan Laib. Kassidy Grandorff and Megan Hinkle were able to use their speed to reach home on a pair of Madonna throwing errors. Tyffani Bryan hit a single and Lyndsey Ryba was able to score off an error, and Melanie Richardson crushed an RBI triple scoring Bryan. CUAA cut the deficit to 7-5 after the 2nd.
Madonna got one run back in the bottom of the 3rd. The Cardinals turned a double play in the bottom of the 4th to prevent any more Crusader runs. Lauren Reichel entered the game at pitcher and drew a foulout to retire the last batter in the 4th inning.
Neither team scored in the 5th or 6th innings. Melanie Richardson crushed a double in the 5th inning and reached third base off a sacrifice groundout from Lauren Reichel, but the team was not able to score the runner.
A solo home run from Tyffani Bryan pulled the Cardinals within 2 runs in the 7th inning. However, Madonna was able to finish off the game and CUAA fell 8-6.
Game 2 – Madonna 3, CUAA 2
Melanie Richardson started on the mound for Concordia in game 2. Richardson helped her own cause by smashing a solo home run in the 1st inning to give the Cardinals an early lead. The Crusaders tied the game with a run in the bottom of the 1st.
Heavy rain began to fall on Thursday afternoon as the top of the 2nd inning was set to begin. The officials suspended play and the game was resumed on Monday afternoon. Lauren Reichel switched to pitcher for the remainder of the game, striking out 3 batters in the contest. Madonna added one more run in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 2-1 lead.
Reichel struck out 2 of the 3 batters she faced in the bottom of the 3rd. Concordia tied the game in the top of the 4th inning. Cierra Woods hit a lead-off single and was driven in by an RBI single from Kali Hill. Madonna was able to add a run in the bottom of the 4th to retake the lead.
Lauren Reichel did not allow a single base runner in either the 5th or 6th inning, but the Cardinals were unable to plate a runner of their own. Madonna was able to hang on to secure a close 3-2 win and sweep the series.
Concordia falls to 25-17 overall and 11-9 in the WHAC after the games. The Cardinals will host Indiana Tech on Tuesday, April 23 at 3:30 when they resume game 2 of their WHAC series. The game was suspended due to darkness in the top of the 5th with Indiana Tech leading 7-3.
