(Middletown, OH) - The Concordia Cardinals softball team headed to Ohio for a two-game series against the Harriers of Miami-Hamilton. The Cardinals would sweep on the day with a 14-4 and a 13-1 win over the two games. These would be the final games before the team heads down to Florida for their spring break trip.
GAME 1 - CONCORDIA 14, MIAMI-HAMILTON 4
Paige Anderson started in the pitcher's circle for the Cardinals and pitched the first two innings of the game, before coming back in for the final two outs of the game. She struck out seven batters throughout the eight outs she recorded. Elyse Brittain was the pitcher of record in the game, going two innings with three strikeouts and just three baserunners.
The Cardinals jumped out to a lead in the top of the first with Shannon McAlinden knocking a three-run homer to get things started. Jada Stephenson then scored Katie Tobias from second base on a squeeze bunt to make it 4-0.
Miami-Hamilton snuck a run in during the bottom of the first, but the Cardinals responded with an eight run second inning. Koryn Playford, Shannon McAlinden, Dee Campbell, Jada Stephenson, Bella Lee, and Payton Lewis all helped drive in at least one run in the explosive inning.
The pinch hitting Cassidy Kane plated two more runs in the top of the fifth to make it 14-1.
The Harriers put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it was too little, too late as the Cardinals went on to win with the mercy rule.
GAME 2 - CONCORDIA 13, MIAMI-HAMILTON 1
The starter for the second game of the day was Kiley Weiderman as she would pitch the first three innings in the game and earn the win. Weiderman allowed two baserunners and one run, while striking out four batters. Kendall Kahl came into pitch the fourth inning, allowing a hit and a walk, while Cassidy Kane pitched the final inning, striking out the side with a walk.
The scoring started right away again for the Cardinals with Payton Lewis starting the game with a double and Koryn Playford bringing the two of them home on a home run to left field. Cassidy Kane singled to the pitcher and would come around to score on an Elyse Brittain single, aided by a fielding error. The sole Harrier run came in the bottom of the first as the first batter of the inning hit a home run.
Three more Cardinal runs would come across the plate in the second inning as Lewis and Playford singled and doubled respectively and both would come to score on a Shannon McAlinden double to center field. She would wind up scoring herself when Katie Tobias doubled to the left centerfield gap.
The Cardinal bats were silent until the fourth inning as they plated their final seven runs in the game. Playford and McAlinden both singled and would steal second following their hit. They would come home on back-to-back at bats by Lauren Martin (sac fly to left field) and Elyse Brittain (single through right side). Jada Stephenson singled through the middle and stole second to have runners on second and third. Morgan Scott singled up the middle to bring in two more runs, while scoring on a Payton Lewis single. Sarah Tyrell followed Scott and walked and scored on Playford's third extra-base hit of the day.
The Harriers were not able to score in the bottom of the fourth despite runners on second and third, as a double-play would wipe away the runners.
Kane struck out the final three batters as the Cardinals went on to their second mercy rule win of the day.
TOP PERFORMERS
Koryn Playford led the team on the day going 6-6 with 4 extra-base hits, with 3 doubles and 1 home run. Shannon McAlinden totaled 5 hits on the day with a double and a home run, while grabbing 2 stolen bases and leading the team in RBIs with 6.
Kiley Weiderman led the day pitching three innings and earning the win in game 2. She struck out 4 batters, while only allowing 4 baserunners. Paige Anderson would pitch 2.2 innings on the game striking out 7 of the 13 batters she faced, while only allowing 1 run. Elyse Brittain would grab the other win on the day, going 2 innings with 3 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The softball team will be headed south for their spring break trip, which will begin on Friday, March 10, with a doubleheader against Culver-Stockton and Washington-Adventist. The game against the Wildcats will start at 9:00 AM at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, Florida.
