(Ann Arbor, MI) - Concordia softball hosted day two of the NCCAA Midwest Regional Championship on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals faced Geneva College in the final championship series game and used a 3-run rally in the sixth inning to claim a 4-3 win.
Emilee Underwood started on the mound, making 1 strikeout in three innings. Faith Cramton hit a solo home run in the second inning to open scoring.
Geneva College rallied with a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-1 lead. Paige Anderson came in to pitch starting in the fourth inning, making 1 strikeout in the last four innings.
Shannon McAlinden blasted a solo home run in the sixth inning to begin a Cardinal rally. McAlinden is now tied with CUAA assistant softball coach Sam Capuzzi for the career home run record with her 20th long ball. Maddy Grueter tied the game with an RBI triple to bring home Summer Brady. Bella Lee then had a go-ahead sacrifice fly to score Grueter.
Paige Anderson and the Cardinal defense secured the 4-3 victory after the seventh inning.
Concordia will now enter the 2024 NCCAA World Series as the defending champions. The event will be held May 14-16 in Kansas City, Missouri at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.
