The Eagles opened up the 2018 campaign with a 4-1 showing at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. Sunday, Concordia capped the weekend off with wins against Western Washington University and Cal State Monterey Bay. Senior center fielder
Ryann Ferguson and freshman pitcher
Callie Nunes earned All-Tournament Team accolades.
Ferguson went 12-for-18 (.667) with a tournament-best four home runs. She slugged 1.500, had 10 RBIs and reached base at a clip of .684. Freshman Nunes started her collegiate career with a no-hitter, just the second in the Desert Stinger Tournament history, in a 12-0 win over Western Oregon. She finished the weekend with a tournament low 0.51 earned run average with 20 strikeouts in 13.2 innings for a total of two wins and two saves.
Game 1: CUI - 7, Western Washington - 6
Sydni Dix hit her first career home run to score the first run of the game for the Eagles.
Sarah Kretschmar got on base next with a single and
Lauren Lopez reached on an error. Then, Ferguson launched a three RBI homer to right center for the 4-0 lead in the third. Western Washington battled back and scored three runs on three hits. The game remained tied until in the bottom of the fourth,
Kaylee Dalgarn delivered a two out base hit. Ferguson knocked her in with a single and and
Ashley Balestreri brought Ferguson home on a hit that resulted in a Viking error. The final Eagle run came in the bottom of five when
Kailey Palazzolo singled and sent
Haylee Kloosterman around. The Vikings cut the CUI lead to three in the sixth, and then to one in the top of the seventh. But Nunes struck out two to secure the 7-6 win.
Jordan Quinn earned the win on 4.1 innings pitched and five strikeouts.
Game 2: CUI - 3, Monterey Bay -1
Nunes pitched all seven innings for the Eagles against Monterey Bay and held the Otters to just one run. Concordia combined for nine hits and scored all three of its runs in the third innings.
Mackenzie Graham started the third with a single through the left side and
McKinsey Thorpe drew a two out walk to keep the inning alive.
Heather Nonora hit a RBI single down the right field line and Thorpe scored on a throwing error. Ferguson's double sent Nonora home for the 3-1 lead. Nunes struck out seven and allowed four hits. Ferguson led the team at the plate with three doubles and a RBI. Graham and Nonora each had two hits.
What's Next: Friday, Concordia travels to St. George, Utah for another tournament. Friday they face University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Metro State. Saturday they are up against Colorado Mesa and Colorado School of the Mines.
