(Easley, SC) – Concordia softball continued play at the NCCAA World Series on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals completed pool play with a matchup against #3 seed Carolina University, winning 7-1 to clinch the Pool B title. The team then faced off against #4 Oakland City University in a semifinal game, earning a 4-1 victory to secure a spot in the NCCAA World Series championship game.
Game 1 – #2 CUAA 7, #3 CAR 1
Maddie Cieczka pitched a complete game on the mound, making 5 strikeouts. Concordia went up 1-0 after the top of the 1st on a solo home run by Abbie Begley. Both defenses held strong until the 4th inning when Carolina scored to tie the game 1-1.
Concordia gained control with a 5-run 5th inning. Koryn Playford started things off with a sacrifice fly to score Sarah Tyrrell. Shannon McAlinden hit an RBI single to drive in Abbie Begley and then eventually scored on an error by the catcher. Kate Elias capped off the inning with a 2-run homer, also scoring Emma Paryaski. CUAA led 6-1 after the 5th.
The Cardinals added an insurance run in the 6th when Shannon McAlinden hit her second RBI single of the day to drive in Heidi Walters. Maddie Ciezcka finished off all 3 batters in the 7th to secure the win.
#SCOREoftheGame: The fourth pitch of the game and Begley knocks a ball over the fence for a @CUAACardinals homerun! @scoreintl1 https://t.co/AdoJMqRa7G pic.twitter.com/vR26Vc8X6Y
— NCCAA Championships (@NCCAAChamps) May 19, 2021
Game 2 – #2 CUAA 4, #4 OCU 1
Lauren Reichel went a complete game in the semifinals, recording 6 strikeouts. Concordia got on the board with 2 runs in the 1st inning when Emma Paryaski lined a triple into right field that scored Shannon McAlinden and Koryn Playford.
Heidi Walters extended the Cardinals' lead with her first career home run. Shannon McAlinden added a run in the 3rd inning when she scored on a passed ball to make it a 4-0 lead.
Oakland City broke the shutout with a run in the 5th. Sarah Tyrrell used an impressive backhanded catch to record the second out of the inning.
Concordia's defense continued to hold strong for the rest of the game. Sarah Tyrrell made another solid play to end the game by recording a groundout at third, stranding two Oakland City runners and clinching the 4-1 win.
#SCOREoftheGame: Paryaski knocks a triple down the right field line to bring in two runs for @CUAACardinals in their semifinal win! https://t.co/AdoJMqRa7G pic.twitter.com/GgWHpmoUf8
— NCCAA Championships (@NCCAAChamps) May 19, 2021
Concordia will now face #1 seed Mid-America Christian tomorrow at 1:00pm in the championship game of the NCCAA World Series.
