Softball advances in the consolation bracket defeating Cleary and UNOH

Concordia Ann Arbor

University of Northwestern Ohio

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Concordia Ann Arbor (29-22)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	1
University of Northwestern Ohio (29-15)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0

Cleary (Mich.)

Concordia Ann Arbor

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cleary (Mich.) (14-27)	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	9	1
Concordia Ann Arbor (28-22)	0	4	0	0	1	0	X	5	7	2

Maddie Ciezcka pitches a complete game in game 2. (Photo Courtesy of Madonna athletics)

Pitching

Win: Lauren Reichel (13-7)

Loss: Mercedes Cole (4-10)

Batting

Cleary (Mich.)

2B: none

3B: Hannah Benner

HR: none

Concordia Ann Arbor

2B: Lauren Reichel; Megan Hinkle

3B: none

HR: none

full stats

Posted: May 06, 2021

(Sylvania, OH) – After splitting in the opening round on Wednesday, Concordia softball embarked on day 2 of the WHAC conference tournament. The #4 seed Cardinals faced off against #6 Cleary in an elimination game in the morning and then faced #3 UNOH. Concordia won both games to advance to the final of the consolation bracket against #2 Madonna, a game which was postponed to 11am tomorrow due to rain.

Game 1 - #4 CUAA 5, #6 CLE 2

Lauren Reichel pitched a complete game against Cleary, recording 6 total strikeouts. Cleary scored first in the top of the 2^nd, but the Cardinals fought back with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning. Megan Hinkle tied the game with an RBI double to score Emma Paryaski. Abbie Begley then hit a go-ahead RBI single to drive in Hinkle. Koryn Playford capped off the inning with a 2-RBI single, scoring Begley and Carley Pearson for a 4-1 lead.

Lauren Reichel continued to hold the Cleary offense and Shannon McAlinden reached home in the 5^th on an error after a failed pickoff attempt. While Cleary plated one run in the 7^th, Concordia held on to secure the 5-2 win and advance to the next round.

Game 2 – #4 CUAA 2, #3 UNOH 1

Maddie Ciezcka went the complete game against UNOH on the mound, pitching a no-hitter until the 7^th inning and making 3 strikeouts. Concordia scored 2 runs in the 1^st inning. Emma Paryaski used a bunt RBI to score Abbie Begley for the game's first run. Megan Hinkle added a sacrifice fly to drive in Shannon McAlinden for a 2-0 lead.

The game settled into a pitchers' duel as Maddie Cieczka continued to mow down UNOH batters. The Cardinals threatened in the 6^th inning when Koryn Playford got on base with a single and stole second base. Megan Hinkle hit a deep single, but Playford was narrowly thrown out at the plate.

UNOH broke up the no-hit bid with a double in the 7^th inning. The Racers were able to score a run and get 2 runners on base, but Maddie Cieczka closed out the game with a strikeout to clinch the 2-1 win.

Concordia will now face #2 Madonna tomorrow at 11am to determine the consolation bracket winner. If the Cardinals win, they will enter a best-of-3 series with #1 seed Aquinas for the WHAC conference championship.