The PacWest midweek double header against the Azusa Pacific Cougars resulted in one win and one loss for the Eagles. Concordia captured the first game 5-1, but dropped a close game two 1-0 to snap the team's nine game winning streak.
In the fourth of the opening game, Hanna Miller singled through the left side on a 1-1 pitch to set the Eagles up to score. Ashley Balestreri came in to pinch run and stole second. With two outs, Nicole Chavez hit a RBI single to bring Balestreri around. The Cougars came back during their next at bats with a solo homerun to tie the score at one apiece.
In the fifth, Lauren Rodriguez roped a single on her first pitch of the at bat. Heather Nonora came through next with a bunt to move Rodriguez over a base and reach first. With two outs, Miller found space up the middle to load the bases. Amy Eilefson brought in an unearned run on an APU error for a 2-1 Eagle lead. They extended it to two on a walk from Alyssa Turner.
Concordia separated themselves from the Cougars in the sixth with one more run. Sarah Kretschmar singled to the short stop, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice from Rodriguez's bunt. Nonora was up next, and also bunted to reach first safely on a fielder's choice. She stole second to set herself in scoring position for Ryann Ferguson. Ferguson drove Nonora home with a single to center field.
In their final at bats, Miller got on base again with a walk. Eilefson singled to center field to push Miller over. Turner loaded the bases on a walk and Chavez capitalized with a RBI single to left.
With one Cougar runner on and one out, Concordia closed out game one with a double play.
Grayson Harvey improved her record to 12-4 with the win. She pitched seven complete innings with eight strike outs.
Game two was a pitching duel between BethAnn McCann and Ariana von Zboray of APU. Both pitchers only allowed four hits, but the Cougars posted one run in the sixth for the victory.
Ferguson posted 50 percent of the Eagle hits, while Mackenzie Graham and Kretschmar each added one.
The Eagles enter the weekend with a 25-10-2 overall and 13-5 conference record. Saturday, Concordia faces off with Cal State San Marcos in a double header beginning at 12 p.m. at Eagles Field.Â