Pitching has carried the Concordia softball team all season and Friday against Azusa Pacific was no different.  The combination of Callie Nunes, Grayson Harvey and Jordan Quinn combined to give up just three earned runs on the day.  The offense had a monster inning late in game two to leave their mark as well.

GAME ONE: Nunes was on the mound for the Eagles in game one and she pitched one of her best games of the year.  Shutouts have become common for Nunes in her freshman year and she has two no hitters.  On Friday, she was as sharp as she has been all season.  Over the first three innings, she was perfect, striking out four. 

In the 4^th inning, she gave up her first hit but it came on a full swing infield hit.  The ball landed over Nunes' head, just in front of a charging McKinsey Thorpe.  The Eagles got out of the inning without allowing another baserunner.

The Eagles' offense was unable to break through themselves, however.  Through four, the score remained 0-0.  In the 5^th inning, Nunes struck out the side.  In the 6^th, she shut APU down in order once again.

In the bottom of the 6^th inning, CUI finally broke the scoreless tie.  After Brooke Jackson led off the inning with a single to left, Amy Eilefson popped up a bunt attempt but it landed over the head of the charging APU third baseman for a hit.  With runners on second and third two batters later, Kailey Palazzolo hit a fly ball deep enough to left field to bring in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly.

Now up 1-0 in the 7^th, Nunes took the mound trying to finish off her gem.  Though APU led off the inning with an infield single, Nunes retired the next three batters, striking out two.  She finished the game just two infield hits away from her first career perfect game.

Eagle Eye: Nunes earned her 20^th win of the season, pitching all seven innings, giving up just two hits, no walks and striking out 12.  Brooke Jackson finished one-for-two with a walk. 

GAME TWO: In the second game of the day, APU jumped out to an early lead but it didn't last long.  After the Cougars scored on a 1^st inning sacrifice fly, the Eagles came back and got a run of their own two innings later.  With two outs, the Eagles rallied.  Ryann Ferguson singled to right field.  Jackson walked.  Eilefson then brought Ferguson home on a single of her own.

The score remained tied at one until the wild 6^th inning.  In the top half of the inning, the Cougars re-took the lead after three hits.  The action was just beginning.
In the bottom of the 6^th, the Eagles' offense exploded for eight runs.  Palazzolo led off the inning with a rocket double to left center.  Michelle Lieng reached on an infield single.  Graham then singled to tie the game.  After a McKinsey Thorpe sac bunt, Sarah Kretschmarr was hit by a pitch, the Eagles took the lead on a fielders choice by Ferguson.  They weren't done just yet.  Jackson drew a bases loaded walk to plate another and Eilefson singled to score one more.  With the score now 6-2, Gjertsen hit a monster home run over the left field wall to bring in three more runs.

The Cougars tacked on two runs in the top of the 7^th, one unearned, but it wasn't nearly enough.  CUI took game two by the score of 9-4.

Eagle Eye: Eilefson finished two-for-four with three RBI's.  Gjertsen finished one-for-four with three RBI's.  Grayson Harvey pitched five innings, giving up just two hits and one run.  Nunes earned her 21^st win of the season.

What's Next: The Eagles take on a strong Dixie State team on Saturday in a doubleheader at Eagles Field.  Game one begins at 12 PM.