The Concordia softball team, ranked No. 10 in the country in the preseason NFCA Coaches Poll, began its season on Friday in the prestigious Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas.  The 10th annual Desert Stinger Tournament brings together 24 of the best division II softball teams in the nation.  The Eagles began the tournament with two games on Friday against two talented teams. 

Northwest Nazarene University, traveling from Nampa, Idaho, is coming off a solid 2018 season, winning 31 games and making a postseason appearance. 
CUI's second game of the day came against another strong team.  Sonoma State won 27 games in 2018, and with a talented roster returning, they figure to have another strong season in 2019.

Game One vs. Northwest Nazarene University:
In the season opener for the Eagles, Callie Nunes, All-American in 2018, began the season on the mound for CUI.  Nunes wasn't sharp early, however, struggling with her command.  After retiring the first hitter of the game, Nunes hit Anna Williams and then walked Kylie Orr.  For the game, Nunes only gave up four hits, but in the first inning, the Nighthawks got a big hit from Brittany Genuardi to give them an early lead.  After Genuardi smacked a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left center, the Nighthawks held a 3-0 lead.

In the second inning, Nunes continued to struggle with her control, but she was able to work her way out of a jam.  With one out, she hit two consecutive batters, then walked another to load the bases.  After striking out the next two, the Eagles got out of the inning unscathed.

"Callie didn't have her best stuff today," said head coach Crystal Rosenthal.  "She battled after a tough first inning and kept us in the game."

For the CUI offense, it was a struggle for much of the game, as well.  Though they were able to get two runners on in the first, they weren't able to come up with a big hit to score any runs.  Jordan Adams had a perfect second and third inning for the Nighthawks before the Eagles were finally able to break through in the fourth.  After Amanda Gjertsen walked and Erika Morris reached on an error, Mackenzie Graham singled up the middle to bring in Gjertsen and cut the NNU lead to 3-1. 

Following her early troubles, Nunes settled down, working her way through the Northwest Nazarene lineup and keeping the Eagles close.  In the fifth inning, CUI inched even closer.  Sarah Kretschmar reached on a walk and moved up on a McKinsey Thorpe single to left.  After an infield single by Lauren Lopez loaded the bases, Gjertsen hit a sac fly to bring the score to 3-2. 

The Eagles weren't able to get any closer, however.  A home run by Anna Williams in the top of the seventh gave the Nighthawks an insurance run, and the Eagles went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to fall 4-2 in the season opener.  It was just the second time in her career that Nunes gave up at least four runs in a game.

Despite the Eagles only scoring two runs, credit must be given to the NNU defense.  "We hit seven really hard balls that didn't fall for us and their defense played great," said coach Rosenthal.

Asked what the Eagles needed to do in their second game, coach Rosenthal was clear.  "We just need to get better."

Eagle Eye: Lauren Lopez finished 2-for-4 at the plate.  Michelle Lieng finished 1-for-2 with a walk.

Game Two vs. Sonoma State University:
In the second game of the day, the Eagles' offense came alive.  Freshman Megan Massa led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to center field, and two batters later, Amanda Gjertsen knocked her in with a single to center.  Another hit, this time by Sydni Dix, and an error by the Seawolves brought in two more runs for the Eagles.  At the end of one, CUI led 3-0.

The lead didn't last, however.  In the top of the fourth inning, Sonoma State scored three runs to tie the game.  In the bottom of the third, the Eagles came right back.  Alyssa Turner led off the inning with a single, Sarah Kretschmar reached on an error, both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Lopez, and Massa brought home the lead runner with a sac fly to put the Eagles back on top, 4-3.

In the top of the fifth, the game swung back the Seawolves' way, as they scored two runs to take a 5-4 lead.  Just as they had done one inning earlier, the Eagles responded.  With Dix and Gjertsen on base, Sydney Sprinkle doubled down the right field line, driving in both runners, and putting the Eagles back on top.

With the Eagles now leading 6-5, Jordan Quinn went back to work on the mound for the Eagles.  She retired the Seawolves in order in the sixth inning.  In the seventh, she did the same, shutting down the Seawolves in order to collect the first Eagles' win of the season. 

Eagle Eye: Newcomer Megan Massa finished 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.  Third baseman Amanda Gjertsen finished with a hit, a walk, and an RBI and also scored twice.

What's Next: The Eagles continue play in the Desert Stinger on Saturday, taking on No. 7 Chico State at 4:30 p.m. and Humboldt State at 7:00 p.m.

*SCHEDULE UPDATE* : Saturday's morning games in Las Vegas have been delayed and CUI's scheduled 4:30 p.m. start vs. No. 7 Chico State has been moved back to 7 p.m.

For the full Concordia University Irvine softball schedule, click here.