2018 Softball Team Huddle with NCAA Banner
Minh Dang
3
Concordia, Irvine CUI-SB 46-14
4
Winner Dixie State DX-SB 41-8
Concordia, Irvine CUI-SB
46-14
3
Final
4
Dixie State DX-SB
41-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Concordia, Irvine CUI-SB 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 8 0
Dixie State DX-SB 0 0 4 0 0 0 X 4 5 1

W: Hazel, C. (19-3) L: Nunes, Callie (25-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | Spencer Stueve

Softball season comes to a close at West Regional

With a 2-1 record in the West Regional, CUI took the field on Saturday looking to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals next week, but had to get past a tough team first. The Eagles and the Dixie State Trailblazers are familiar foes, having played five times already entering Saturday's game.  During the regular season, the Trailblazers won two in February, but the Eagles came back to take two in April to even up the season series.  In the Regional, Dixie State beat CUI 3-2 on Friday.  The sixth game of the season series was, like the ones before it, a nail-biter.

Elimination Game: Playing as the visiting team in their home stadium, the Eagles jumped out to a lead, scoring one in the top of the 2nd inning.  Amy Eilefson led off the inning with a single.  Ashley Balestreri came in to pinch run, Mackenzie Graham bunted her up to second and Michelle Lieng brought her in on a single up the middle.

The lead didn't last.  In the bottom of the 3rd inning, the Trailblazers turned the tide of the game and did it with one big swing.  After a hit batter and two walks loaded the bases, Jessica Gonzalez smashed a grand slam to centerfield. 

CUI quickly cut the three run deficit to just one in the following inning.   Lieng and McKinsey Thorpe each collected hits to start the inning, Ryann Ferguson reached on an error and then Amanda Gjertsen singled to bring in two.

That was as close as the Eagles got, however.  Dixie State star freshman pitcher Cambrie Hazel was lights out the rest of the way.  CUI's season came to a close with the 4-3 loss.

The 2018 Concordia softball team has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of.  Along with a stellar 46-14 record, they won the PacWest Conference title, earned a right to host the West Regional and had six players named to the All-PacWest team.

"Just a tremendous season for us," Head Coach Crystal Rosenthal said.  "We worked really hard in the fall with this being our goal to win conference and host." 

The careers of the five seniors for the Eagles came to a close on Saturday.  Grayson Harvey, Ryann Ferguson, Amy Eilefson, Kaylee Dalgarn and Kailey Palazzolo saw the Eagles transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and finished with Concordia's first trip to a West Regional. 

"We're going to miss them a lot," said Jordan Quinn.  "They're going to go on to do great things."

Looking forward, the future is bright for the Eagles.  Callie Nunes is just a freshman and her first season is one to remember.  She finished tops in the country in ERA during the regular season (0.55), setting the PacWest all-time record.  She led the country in strikeouts, as well, finishing with 282.  She won 25 games and threw two no-hitters.

Nunes will be joined with  a slew of returning talent, including Michelle Lieng, Brooke Jackson, Mackenzie Graham, Amanda Gjertsen and Jordan Quinn.
 
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