(Brighton, MI) – Concordia softball played three games at the Legacy Center on Friday as they continued their season indoors. The Cardinals competed against Grace, IU South Bend, and Saint Xavier on the day. CUAA went 2-1 in the matchups, winning their first two games before falling in the final contest.
Game 1 – CUAA 5, Grace 3 (6 innings)
Lauren Reichel started on the mound for Concordia, making 7 strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. Reichel struck out 5 batters in the first 3 innings to keep the game scoreless.
The Cardinal bats came alive with a 4-run 3rd inning. Koryn Playford hit an RBI single, scoring Lauren Reichel. Shannon McAlinden then tacked on a bases-loaded 3-RBI triple scoring Emma Parayski, Playford and Abbie Begley.
Grace fought back with a 2-run homer in the 4th. Concordia countered with a run in the bottom of the 4th when Sarah Tyrell hit a sacrifice fly scoring Jada Stephenson. Kendall Kahl and Cassidy Kane closed out the game on the mound and CUAA won game one 5-3.
Game 2 – CUAA 5, IU South Bend 3 (5 innings)
Maddie Cieczka was the starting pitcher in game 2, recording 2 strikeouts in 4 innings. IU South Bend struck first with one run in the bottom of the 1st. Concordia fought back in the top of the 2nd when Carly Pearson hit a 2-RBI triple scoring Karley Kent and Lauren Reichel.
IU South Bend tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the 2nd. The Cardinals went up 3-2 after an RBI single from Shannon McAlinden scored Koryn Playford, but IU South Bend tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the 3rd.
In the 5th inning Emma Paryaski used a 2-RBI single to score Koryn Playford and Abbie Begley. Cassidy Kane was able to finish out the last inning on the mound and CUAA took game two 5-3.
Game 3 – Saint Xavier 5, CUAA 0 (5 innings)
Kate Elias began game 3 at pitcher, pitching 2.1 innings and making a strikeout. Saint Xavier scored 2 runs in the first 2 innings to take a 4-0 lead after the 2nd. Cassidy Kane came in to pitch in the 3rd inning, notching a strikeout and getting the team out of a bases-loaded jam.
Kane held Saint Xavier scoreless in the 4th, but the Cardinal bats struggled to get runners on base. Saint Xavier tacked on another run in the 5th and claimed a 5-0 win.
Concordia will play their next games on Saturday, March 6 against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College starting at 2pm.
