(Melbourne, FL) - The Concordia Cardinals Softball team played their final doubleheader of the week against Saint Francis (IN) and Florida National on Friday.
The Cardinals entered the day at 16-6 overall with the Cougars at 3-5 and Florida National at 12-11.
GAME 1 - CONCORDIA 3, SAINT FRANCIS 2
Emilee Underwood earned the start in the circle for the Cardinals, pitching a complete game. Underwood (10-0) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks as she struck out four batters.
After Shannon McAlinden reached on an error and stole second, Katie Tobias doubled to center field for the early 1-0 lead. Neither team could get anything going in either the second or the third inning. The fourth inning saw the Cougars tie the game on an RBI single to right field.
The lead changed hands in the sixth as Saint Francis scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double to left-center for the 2-1 lead.
Following a double play in the top of the seventh, Concordia needed a run to tie and send the game to extras, or two runs for their second walk-off of the week. Tobias reached on an error, and Elyse Brittain walked to open the inning. After Emmi Liptow, who ran for Tobias, stole third, Bella Lee singled up the middle to score Liptow for a tie game.
Jada Stephenson would then lay down a bunt which turned out to be a single to load the bases. The final batter of the game was Sarah Tyrell who sent a ground ball to the second baseman who bobbled it as she attempted to throw home, but was not enough as the winning run crossed the plate for the 3-2 win.
GAME 2 - FLORIDA NATIONAL 4, CONCORDIA 0
Three pitchers combined for the six innings pitched in the second game of the day. Paige Anderson earned the start going the first two innings allowing one hit and struck out a batter.
The two teams played the first two innings quickly as neither team could get the bats going. The Card's first hit came in the third from Summer Brady. In the bottom half of the inning, Florida National was able to pick up a pair of runs on two separate singles. The fourth inning saw two more runs cross the plate for FNU on a single and a sacrifice fly.
The sixth inning was the closest the Cardinals were able to score with Brady getting the first hit of the inning followed by Shannon McAlinden. CUAA would eventually load the bases, but to no avail, as the final score would end at 4-0.
Hannah Duchene and Elyse Brittain combined for the final four innings as Duchene (0-1) gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits. Brittain did not allow a run, while giving up one hit and striking out three batters.
TOP PERFORMERS
Summer Brady led the team with a pair of hits on the day with Katie Tobias and Bella Lee each recording an RBI.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals round out their spring break trip with their final game tomorrow morning against Bethel (IN) at 9 AM.
