(Ann Arbor, MI) - The Concordia Cardinals softball team returned home for a 6-game home stretch as they started with a doubleheader against the Lourdes Gray Wolves. CUAA came in on a three-game winning streak as Lourdes enters following a two-game sweep of Siena Heights.
The Cardinals come in with an overall record of 27-11 and a 9-5 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) record which is currently tied for fourth in the standings. Lourdes enters at 13-25 overall and a WHAC record of 7-11, which has them outside of the top-8 as the ninth seed.
GAME 1 - CONCORDIA 5, LOURDES 2
Emilee Underwood began the game in the circle for the Cardinals. Underwood (15-2) pitched a complete game in the circle allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and struck out 10.
Lourdes grabbed the first run of the game on a leadoff home run to left field for the early 1-0 lead. They threatened by getting two more runners on in the inning, but Underwood struck out two and induced a groundout to end the inning.
The Gray Wolves' lead did not last long as Concordia responded with a pair of runs. Shannon McAlinden brought in Payton Lewis, who singled to lead off the inning, with a single to left field. A couple of batters later the second run crossed the plate on a fielder's choice bunt to score McAlinden.
The top of both the third and fourth innings saw Underwood set six straight batters down, including striking out the third. The Cardinal bats came to life again in the fifth inning when Maddy Grueter brought home Cassidy Kane and McAlinden on a dropped fly ball to right field. Grueter would then score on Jada Stephenson's double to left center field.
Underwood struck out her final two batters in the sixth inning to bring her total to 10 on the day.
GAME 2 - CONCORDIA 8, LOURDES 6
The game 2 starter for the Cardinals was Paige Anderson who pitched 2.1 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits.
After two quick innings to start the game, both Lourdes and Concordia put up runs in the third. Lourdes started out the top of the inning putting four runners across the plate between a ground out and a home run to left. CUAA's three runs came off the bat of Shannon McAlinden who singled to bring in both Payton Lewis and Bella Lee. Faith Cramton then brought in McAlinden on a single.
Back-to-back doubles from Madison Poe and McAlinden gave the Cards the lead in the fourth, as Poe brought in Lewis and Lee, while McAlinden hit in Poe. Two important insurance runs crossed the plate for CUAA in the bottom of the 6th as Kaleigh McClelland singled home McAlinden and Poe for the 8-4 lead.
The Gray Wolves attempted a comeback in the final inning of play as they scored a pair of runs to bring the score to within two, but were unable to complete the comeback
Elyse Brittain closed out the final 4.2 innings, earning the win. Brittain (2-0) allowed two runs on one hit.
TOP PERFORMERS
Shannon McAlinden and Payton Lewis each grabbed four hits on the day, as McAlinden brought in four runs as well. Madison Poe, Kaleigh McClelland, and Jada Stephenson tallied two RBIs a piece.
Emilee Underwood recorded a team-low 1.00 ERA as she also struck out 10 batters.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will remain at home for a doubleheader against Cleary tomorrow, Sunday, April 21 with first pitch at 1 PM.
