No. 16 Concordia Softball opened up PacWest Conference play with a tough matchup against No. 4 Dixie State Saturday in St. George, Utah. The Eagles were swept by the Trailblazers in the doubleheader, dropping the games 1-0 and 6-9.
Game 1: A pitchers duel: Callie Nunes and Dixie State's Cambrie Hazel fought back and fourth for seven innings, with Hazel prevailing on the solo Trailblazer run in the sixth. The Trailblazers threatened in the second with two base hits, but Nunes buckled down an struck out two to close the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Dixie State led off with a base hit and followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance their runner. A single up the middle gave the Trailblazers the go ahead run. In their final attempt, Concordia put pressure on Dixie State.
Sydni Dix singled on a full count with one out.
Mackenzie Graham drew a walk, but
Ashley Balestreri, in pinch running, was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice. The Eagles were unable to bring around the tying run and dropped the contest 1-0.
Nunes tossed six innings, allowing only five hits with 11 strikeouts.
McKinsey Thorpe was two-for-three at the plate.
Sarah Kretschmar and Dix each had one hit.
Game 2: In part two of the doubleheader, the pitchers duel converted into an offensive fight. Dixie State struck first with a run, added three more in the third from a trio of hits and one more in the fifth. Concordia staged a come back in the fifth, posting four runs.
Heather Nonora walked and
Ryann Ferguson knocked a single. Thorpe loaded the bases with a single and
Kailey Palazzolo followed with a two RBI double to center field. With two down,
Amanda Gjertsen brought two more Eagles in with a double to right center. The next inning, the Tralblzaers capitalized on three hits and a few Eagle walks to post four more and increase their cushion to five. In the top of the seventh, Concordia rallied for two more runs. Palazzolo was hit by a pitch and Gjertsen sent a two run homer over the left center fence. The Trailblazers held on to the 9-6 lead to claim their second win of the day.
Gjertsen was three-for-three with four RBI and a home run.
Amy Eilefson, Palazzolo, Ferguson and Thorpe each tallied one hit.
What's Next: The Eagles, now 7-4 and 0-2 in conference, embark on a trip to Hawaii for eight games. Concordia will meet Chaminade March 5th for a two-games series and finish with Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii-Hilo.
