(Ann Arbor, MI) – The Cardinals returned to the Cardinal Softball Field Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader with the UM-Dearborn Wolverines. After winning a marathon over the Wolverines 3-2 in 12 innings in game 1, UMD responded with a 3-2 victory of their own in the second matchup to split the series.
GAME 1 – CUAA 3, UMD 2 (12 Innings)
The first game of the day featured a long extra-inning battle, as Payton Lewis, Koryn Playford, and Katie Tobias led the team with a pair of hits, each, while Paige Anderson pitched all 12 innings on the mound for the Cardinals.
The scoring began right away, as a solo home run with two outs in the top of the first inning gave the Wolverines the early lead in the contest. In the bottom of the frame, Concordia responded as Koryn Playford would get on base on a fielder's choice and steal second, before a double by Katie Tobias drove her in to knot the contest at 1 at the end of the opening inning.
Both pitchers would take control of the game from there, however, as over the next five innings, they would combine to surrender just four hits and zero runs while striking out 8 batters as the sides remained tied 1-1 heading into the final inning of regulation.
In the top of the 7th, UM-Dearborn would attempt to steal third base with two outs, and when the throw got passed the Cardinal covering the bag, they would advance home to take a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the frame. Concordia would respond, however, picking up a trio of singles to load the bases with no outs, before a Shannon McAlinden sacrifice fly would score the game tying run and send the contest into extras tied at 2.
The show on the mound continued, as the teams scraped together just 6 hits total between the 8th and 11th inning, bringing us to the 12th still knotted up at a 2-2 scoreline. After Paige Anderson stranded another Wolverine in scoring position the top of the inning, Jada Stephenson would double to left center, setting up Maddy Grueter for her game winning, walk off RBI single in the bottom of the 12th to secure a 3-2 victory for the Cardinals.
Paige Anderson (9-5) earned the win on the mound, striking out 8 Wolverine Batters and allowing just 8 hits and a single base on balls over her 12 innings of work.
GAME 2 – UMD 3, CUAA 2
Game 2 got off to another fast start, as after starting pitcher Kendall Kahl stranded a pair of Wolverines in the top of the 1st, Koryn Playford would get the Cardinal offense going in the bottom half of the frame. Following a single to left field, Playford stole second base, then on an attempt to steal third, the throw got by the UMD fielder, allowing her to make it home and give CUAA the early 1-0 lead.
The pitching continued to be stellar on both sides, keeping the teams off the scoreboard in the 2nd and 3rd inning. In the top of the 4th, the Wolverines got runners on 1st and 2nd, and after a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt got past the Cardinal first basemen, both runners would make it around to score, vaulting UM-Dearborn in front, 2-1. After a quiet bottom of the 4th, the Wolverines would attack in the top of the 5th as well, driving home a runner on a double to right center field, extending their advantage to a pair of runs.
In the bottom of the 5th with the bases loaded after another trio of singles, Katie Tobias would hit a ground ball that the Wolverine pitcher was unable to field, bringing home a run and cut the UMD deficit in half. The CUAA rally that inning would end right there, however, as the Cardinals still trailed by a run heading into the 6th.
While Concordia was able to shut down the UM-Dearborn offense the rest of the way, they could only muster a single hit by Megan Martin in the final two innings of play, and were unable to catch the Wolverines as they secured the series split with a 3-2 win.
Kendall Kahl (4-4) registered the loss after surrendering a pair of runs in 3 innings on the mound, while Elyse Brittain and Cassidy Kane combined to strike out 5 batters and gave up just a single run in the final 4 innings of play. Sarah Tyrell and Megan Martin led the team with two hits each in the defeat.
TOP PERFORMERS
Megan Martin would go 3-for-4 from the plate to lead CUAA, joining Sarah Tyrell, Koryn Playford, and Payton Lewis as the Cardinals to record 3 hits in the contest. Maddy Grueter, Katie Tobias, and Shannon McAlinden would be the three Concordia players to record an RBI on the day.
Paige Anderson's 12-inning masterclass would lead an impressive day on the mound by CUAA, as their four pitchers combined to strikeout 16 batters while allowing just 13 hits over the course of the two games.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will be back in action this Wednesday, April 5th when they play host to the #RV Indiana Tech Warriors. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3pm at the Cardinal Softball Field in Ann Arbor, MI.
