(Brighton, MI) - The Concordia Cardinals softball team returned to the Legacy Center for another day of games on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals attempted to play a doubleheader against the Titans of Indiana University South Bend but were only able to finish the first game, losing 8-6.
Game 1: IU - South Bend 8, Concordia 6
The Cardinals and Titans came out playing defense to start the game as both teams made good plays and were able to hold the scoring at 0 through the first 2 and a half innings.
The Cardinals were able to strike first in the game as Koryn Playford would walk and come around on a Shannon McAlinden single up the middle. McAlinden would get into scoring position on a stolen base and wound up scoring as Maddie Grueter singled to left field. On the next play, Bella Lee singled to left field and on the play, Grueter came around to score as Lee was called out trying for third.
Indiana South Bend rallied to get one run back in the top of the fourth on a double to right field. In the next inning, The Titans would grab the lead for the first time, as they knocked a home run past the left-field wall for the 4-3 lead.
The Titan lead didn't last for long as the Cardinals would respond right back with two runs of their own. Payton Lewis started off the inning with a walk, advancing and coming around the bases with a couple of stolen bases. Playford who got on base following a fielder's choice and came around as McAlinden roped a double to left-center scoring Playford. The Cardinals would lead 5-4 after five. In the sixth Cassidy Kane, singled and a few plays later would come around on an errant throw by the third baseman for the insurance run.
The top of the seventh saw the Titan's offense come to the plate and grab four runs to take the lead. The Cardinals would threaten in the bottom of the seventh getting two runners on but the Titans would pull the 8-6 win out.
Game 2: Concordia 7, IU - South Bend 0 - 4 Innings
The second game saw much of the same defense that the beginning of the first game had. The Cardinals were able to strike first once again in the bottom of the second. Maddie Grueter started off with a single and advanced to third on the play. She came in one play later on a Sarah Tyrell single. Tyrell wound up stealing third and then on a successful double steal came home while Jada Stephenson took second base. Stephenson scored one play later after Dee Campbell singled up the middle.
Following a quick top of the fourth, Karley Kent tripled to right-center and scored on a Stephenson single up the middle. After a couple of bunts, Koryn Playford singled home a run and then Payton Lewis hit another Cardinal triple to right-center scoring a pair.
The game was called due to time after the fourth inning, making it an uncountable game since it did not reach the 4.5 inning minimum.
The Cards head back to the field in a couple of weekends when they travel to face Alice Lloyd College in Kentucky for four games on February 19 and 20.
