(Ann Arbor, MI) - The Concordia Cardinals softball team will open up their 2023 on the road at the Rosemont Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Illinois. The Cardinals will look to get their season off to a hot start with 6 games over the next three days. Their first two games will see the Cardinals face off against the Cougars of Saint Xavier and the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene. The Cardinals would wind up dropping both games on the evening to two teams receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll.
GAME 1 - CONCORDIA 1, SAINT XAVIER 9
The Cougars would plate three runs in the top of the first inning with two singles and one error, as only one would come back as earned. The fourth inning would see the subsequent three runs for the Cougars. The Cardinal's sole run came in the bottom half of the inning as Elyse Brittain would single to center field and plate Katie Tobias.
The final Cougars runs would come in the 5th and the 7th inning after piecing together a couple of singles and a sacrifice fly.
Paige Anderson would take the loss in the game after pitching 3.2 innings, allowing 8 hits with 1 earned run, as she would strike out 2 batters. Brittain pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run and striking out 1 batter.
GAME 2 - CONCORDIA 6, OLIVET NAZARENE 8
Once again the opposing team grabbed the lead right away in the first inning, with two runs on back-to-back singles.
The Cardinals though would strike back in the second inning as they would grab four runs. Madison Poe and Sarah Tyrell would get on base first in the inning. Morgan Scott would single up the middle as two runs would score on that play. Next up was Payton Lewis, as she singled to third base and brought home Jada Stephenson. Shannon McAlinden reached on a fielder's choice, knocking in Scott.
The third inning saw another Cardinal run with Jada Stephenson sacrifice bunting, Poe home. Saint Francis would take the lead back in the fifth inning with 3 runs, with 2 on a home run. The sixth would then see back-to-back singles to extend the lead to 8-5.
The Cardinals would attempt a final-inning comeback as Katie Tobias would start the inning with a single to right field. With runners on second and third and two out, Poe would once again single to center field.
Four pitchers would combine to pitch for the Cardinals this game as Kiley Weiderman, Kendall Kahl, Cassidy Kane, and Paige Anderson would all pitch. Kahl would take the loss giving up three runs while grabbing 2 strikeouts. Kane would strike the only other Cougar out in the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Lewis and Poe paced the offensive end both grabbing three hits apiece. Katie Tobias would grab the sole extra-base hit with a double. Six different players would grab an RBI in the two games as they were led by Morgan Scott with 2.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals continue their second day of play in Illinois as they will face off against Northwestern at 12:15 PM and Bethel (IN) at 7:00 PM.
