(Kissimmee, FL) - The Concordia Cardinals are in the final stretch of their spring games as they will play their final five games over the next two days. The Cardinals entered the day at 12-9 and would leave at 15-9, while the College of Saint Mary's Flames entered with a 3-10 record, and the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans entered at 3-12. 

Game 1: Concordia 8, College of Saint Mary's 0 - 5 Innings

The game-one starter for the Cardinals was Hannah Duchene. Duchene would be nearly perfect as she allowed only the one baserunner off of one hit, while also striking out one batter. 

A quick first inning from both sides, saw the Cards light up the scoreboard in the second as they would plate six runs throughout the inning. Hannah Duchene and Shannon McAlinden were both able to get on base to begin the inning and that's all the Cardinals needed as Cassidy Kane plated both runners on a single up the middle. A walk was then issued to Payton Lewis and was able to load up the bases with one out. The Cards would score on four consecutive batters as Maddy Grueter walked, Kennedy Cornette and Abbie Begley each singled in a run, and then Hannah Duchene earned an RBI on a groundout. 

The third inning saw Concordia add on another run to the scoreboard as Lewis singled up the middle to score Bella Lee. The score was 7-0 after the third. The Cards would then see an impromptu walk-off as Grueter doubled to left field scoring the eighth run and final run of the game as that marked the eight-run run-rule. 

Game 2: Concordia 8, Hannibal-LaGrange 0 - 5 Innings

Paige Anderson was the only Cardinal pitcher to hit the mound in the middle game of the tripleheader. Anderson would go on to pitch all five innings. In those innings, she would only allow four hits and one walk, and one strikeout. 

The Cardinals bats came ready right away for game two as they plated five runs in the first inning and then were also able to tally a run in each inning that they came to bat. As the Cardinals batted around the order in that first inning the first five batters reached safely. Cornette and Duchene both hit back-to-back singles to bring in the first two runs. Dee Campbell was able to bring in a run after an error by the Trojan shortstop and Morgan Scott brought in two runs on a single. 

The second and third innings saw the Cardinals score after Abbie Begley hit a sacrifice bunt to score Payton Lewis. While the third saw Dee Campbell hit a fielder's choice and score Shannon McAlinden. The final run of the game came from Maddy Grueter as she hit her second home run in as many days over the left-field wall.

Game 3: Concordia 7, College of Saint Mary's 1

Hannah Duchene would once again get the start for the Cardinals in the final game of the day. Duchene would wind up going five strong innings and allow only two hits and striking out three batters. 

The Cards kept up their hot offensive day putting up three runs in the top of the first inning. Maddy Grueter kept her hot streak going with a deep home run to left-center field for her second of the day. Dee Campbell would knock in Kennedy Cornette with a sacrifice fly and then Shannon McAlinden would single in Abbie Begley for the 3-0 lead after 1. In the third, the Cards would attempt a double steal and McAlinden would cross the plate just before Duchene was tagged out going back to first. 

In the fifth, the Cards would tack on two more additional runs as would again attempt a double-steal, this time both runners would be safe following an errant throw from the Flames' second baseman. Hannah Duchene would help out her pitching cause even more this time with a single to score McAlinden.

The Flames would pick able to pick up a run in the sixth and threaten for more. After loading the bases with one out, would tally their only run on a fielder's choice. 

The only relief pitcher to enter the game was Kendall Kahl who came in for relief of Duchene in the sixth inning. Kahl would allow the sole run of the day giving up only one hit and striking out one batter as well. 

The Cardinals will close out their 2022 Spring Break trip with a Saturday doubleheader against Missouri Baptist and Saint Ambrose around 10 am and 12:15 pm respectively.