IRVINE, Calif. – Two thrilling victories for the Concordia University Irvine softball team this past season were selected by the PacWest Conference sports information directors as top 10 PacWest events of the 2019 calendar year.
A historic win by the Eagles this past April came in at No. 7 on the list. On April 17, CUI pitcher and All-American
Callie Nunes tossed a no-hitter to defeat Academy of Art on the road, 4-0. The unbelievable effort by Nunes and the entire CUI squad was even more impressive considering it delivered CUI head coach
Crystal Rosenthal career win No. 500.
Click here for a look back at that amazing day for the Eagles.
VIDEO: Click here for the feature story by ABC 7's Curt Sandoval on CUI softball
Another epic game involving CUI softball on March 26 was voted No. 4 on the list. Against Hawai'i Hilo, Nunes and Vulcans starting pitcher Valerie Alvarado both entered the seventh inning with no-hitters in a scoreless contest. After a hit by
Mackenzie Graham, pinch-runner
Lauren Lopez took off from third base as the catcher tossed the ball back to the Vulcans hurler and stunned everyone in the park with a walk-off steal of home. The Eagles won 1-0 and Nunes earned a no-hitter in that victory as well.
Click here to read more about that crazy finish.
VIDEO: Click here to see the walk-off steal of home plate by CUI's Lopez against ART U
Here is the full list:
2019 Top 10 PACWEST MOMENTS OF THE YEAR
10: Fresno Pacific women's cross country wins PacWest Championships (October 25)
9. Holy Names men's golf wins PacWest Championships (April 24)
8. Chaminade men's basketball completes comeback at Azusa Pacific (February 19)
7. Concordia softball's Nunes tosses no-hitter to deliver Coach Rosenthal career win No. 500 at ART U (April 17) - Click here for PacWest story
6. Mobolade Ajomale caps off impressive career at NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (May 25)
5. Chaminade softball stuns Hawai`i Hilo to snap streak (April 20)
4. Concordia softball's Lopez steals home to top Hawai'i Hilo (March 26) - Click here for PacWest story
3. Point Loma men's basketball reaches NCAA DII Championship Game (March 28)
2. Point Loma women's soccer upsets UC San Diego (November 23)
1. Azusa Pacific women's basketball wins regional on a buzzer-beater (March 18)
The Eagles are preparing for a new campaign which will start with a dress rehearsal on Saturday, Jan. 25 in the annual CUI softball alumni game at Eagles Field.
The Green and Gold will then open the upcoming regular season by hosting nine schools at the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Great Park in Irvine. The team's first matchup of the year pits CUI against Cal State San Marcos at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. CUI will face five opponents during the new three-day tournament.
For the full 2020 CUI softball team schedule, click here.
