(Rosemont, IL) After a sweep of Thursday's games, the Cardinal softball team looked to continue their winning ways at the NAIA Leadoff Classic Tournament. The Cardinals split Friday's pair of games, with each game only going five innings. Concordia is now 3-1 on the young season going into their last day of the tournament.
Game 1 | Friday January 31st | 9:30 AM
Concordia 11 - College of Saint Mary 0
Kate Elias started in the pitcher's circle for the Cardinals and had a lights out performance as she mowed down the Flames throughout her four innings. The freshman only allowed two Flames to reach base in her first collegiate appearance.
The Cardinal offense was high powered from the start of the game as they drove in ten runs in just the first two innings of play. Kendall Sampang, Carly Pearson, and Emma Paryaski each plated two runs in the game.
Freshman Peyton Grice came in to close out the game in the fifth, and tallied a pair of strikeouts while sitting down all three of the Flames' batters.
Game 2 | Friday January 31st | 11:45 AM
Concordia 1 - #15 Olivet Nazarene 9
Lauren Reichel was the Cardinal starter as Concordia faced off against 15th ranked Olivet Nazarene. Reichel did well to keep the Tigers at bay in the first two innings, only allowing three runs in the first two innings.
Concordia was able to cut into the Olivet Nazarene lead in the top of the third when Lyndsey Ryba led off with a double and stole home.
It was the third inning when the Tigers broke things open and drove in another two runs, forcing the Cardinals to go to Maddie Cieczka. A fielding error helped Olivet bring in two more runs in the inning and one more once Peyton Grice entered the game for the Cardinals.
Grice finished out the game for Concordia, only allowing one more run in the fourth.
The Cardinals will finish out their portion of the NAIA Leadoff Classic Tournament with games against Saint Xavier and St. Francis (IN) on Saturday. The games will be at 2:00 pm and 8:45 pm respectively.
