(Rosemont, IL) - The Concordia Cardinal "Recieving Votes" Softball team opened up their 2024 season at the NAIA Leadoff Tournament at the Rosemont Dome in Illinois.
The Cardinals picked up two wins on the day as they would upend Oliver Nazarene and blank Oakland City to close out day 1.
GAME 1 - #RV CONCORDIA 9, OLIVET NAZARENE 4
With CUAA as the away team, they would get the scoring party started early with 2 runs in the top of the inning with Payton Lewis scoring on a Cassidy Kane single and Faith Cramton reaching on a fielder choice on a play that would score Shannon McAlinden. The next time CUAA scored would be off a Maddy Grueter 2-run home run as Sarah Tyrell scored on the play.
Katie Tobias singled in the fourth which would bring McAlinden home. The fifth inning saw three more CUAA runs cross the plate as Sarah Tyrell, Greuter, and Lewis would all score in the inning. The bottom half of the fifth saw the Tigers pick up all four of their runs as they were aided by a couple of wild pitches as well as a fielder's choice and a base hit. The Cardinal's defense was able to rally though as they would shut the ONU offense down in the final two innings as CUAA picked up their first win of the season.
Paige Anderson got the opening nod in the circle for the Cards as she would pitch 7 innings in the circle giving up 3 runs with 4 strikeouts on the afternoon. Hannah Duchene returned to the mound as well in the fifth inning allowing 1 unearned run.
GAME 2 - #RV CONCORDIA 4, OAKLAND CITY 0
The Cardinal defense picked up Emilee Underwood after giving up an early walk as they could turn a double play in the 1st. The Cardinal offense picked up the lead right away in the bottom of the first as Faith Crampton singled in Shannon McAlinden, who got to third after a single, stolen base, and pass ball.
Both sides would stay quiet throughout the next few innings with a couple of CUAA hits sprinkled throughout and the lone Mighty Oaks hit of the game. The bottom of the fifth saw Payton Lewis and Cassidy Kane single to start the inning. That was followed by a McAlinden double and an ensuing Cramton single to bring the score to 4-0.
Underwood started the game in the circle and would pitch 6 innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 9. Elyse Brittain pitched the game's final inning as she struck out 1 of the 3 batters she faced.
TOP PERFORMERS
Faith Cramton picked up 6 hits on the day, with 3 in each game. Maddy Grueter recorded the first CUAA home run of the spring with her 2-run shot against ONU. Shannon McAlinden recorded 3 stolen bases on the day as well.
The pitching circle was highlighted by Emilee Underwood with 9 strikeouts over her 6 innings pitched. Paige Anderson and Elyse Brittain each recorded strikeouts with 4 and 1 respectively.
UP NEXT
The team will be back in action tomorrow, February 10, when they play a triple header against Indiana South Bend, Bethel, and Judson. The game against IUSB will begin at 9 AM EST with the next two games at approximately 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM.
