IRVINE, Calif. - The Concordia University Irvine Eagles and the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans have played four times, with each game coming down to the wire.  On Tuesday, the two teams clashed again and both games were thrillers.  In game one, Callie Nunes and Lauren Lopez stole the show, with the latter capping it with a walk-off steal of home. 

Game two featured plenty of drama as well with Nunes coming on in relief to collect her second win of the day and freshman Sydney Sprinkle capping the night with a towering, walk-off two run homer. 

Game One -  Concordia 1, Hawai'i Hilo 0

The Eagles and the Vulcans squared off in one of the most exciting games of the season thus far.  Both Callie Nunes and Valerie Alvarado pitched yesterday, but the two starters had very different results.  While Alvarado was strong from start to finish, Nunes uncharacteristically struggled on Monday.  On Tuesday, both were brilliant.

For the third time this season and fifth time in her career, Nunes was unhittable.  Facing a lineup littered with .300+ hitters, Nunes sat them down one by one.  Despite walking three and hitting two batters, Nunes was tremendous.  She struck out 12, forced eight fly outs, and six groundballs.

"Everything felt good today," said Nunes.  "All my pitches felt good.  I even sprinkled in some pitches that I threw earlier on in the year, but we faded away from, but today we brought them back and they felt really good."

While Nunes was able to validate her All-America acclaim, she wasn't the only ace in the circle.  Alvarado was just as strong today as she was yesterday.  Through six, she too hadn't given up a single hit.  Entering the bottom of the seventh, the two starting pitchers still carried dueling no-hitters.  In the seventh, the Eagles finally broke free, not only breaking up the no-hitter, but winning in dramatic, walk-off fashion.

Mackenzie Graham led off the inning by smacking a single to left field, breaking up Alvarado's no-no.  It's the only hit the Eagles needed.  Lauren Lopez came in to pinch run for Graham and Nicole Lukinbeal pinch hit for Michelle Lieng, executing a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Lopez up to second.  After Lopez moved to third on a ground ball by Sydni Dix, CUI shortstop Sarah Kretschmar came to the plate with two outs.  She wasn't needed.  After watching Kretschmar take a pitch, Lopez saw UHH catcher Markie Okamoto lob the ball back to Alvarado and broke for the plate.  As Lopez neared the plate, Alvarado caught the ball and fired home.  Her return throw was late, as Lopez's headfirst slide beat the tag.  With her steal of home, the Eagles won 1-0 in dramatic fashion and also clinched the third no-hitter of the season for Nunes. 

"When I go in, I just want to do whatever it takes to score," said Lopez.  "Everyone was so excited.  It was great."

To see the video of the walk-off steal by Lopez, click here.

Meanwhile in the dugout, Nunes was thrilled for her teammate.

"When I saw Lauren take off, we lost it in the dugout," said Nunes.  "It's a great feeling seeing our teammate succeed."

Game Two - Concordia 5, Hawai'i Hilo 3

The second game ended much like the first, with the Eagles celebrating together as a team following a walk-off win.  With one out and Megan Massa standing on second, Sydney Sprinkle smashed a ball over the left field wall, landing on the roof of the batting cages, well beyond the ball.  The two run blast gave the Eagles the doubleheader sweep and the series win. 

To watch video of Sprinkle's game-winning homer click here.

Over the first five innings, Erika Morris was dominant and it looked like the Eagles were on their way to a comfortable win.  CUI led 3-0, collecting two runs in the second and one in the fifth.  Amanda Gjertsen collected two of the nine Eagles hits, and Kretschmar, Graham, and Thorpe each collected RBI's early. 

In the sixth, however, the Vulcans bounced back, scoring three runs and tying the game.  Nunes entered the game with the score tied, and picked up where she left off in game one.  She pitched 1.1 innings, keeping the Vulcans off the board. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Sprinkle's walk off home run not only gave the Eagles the series win, but gave Nunes her second win of the day. 

"Both teams fought so hard today and yesterday," said Nunes.  "We just battled."

After the two exhilarating wins, the Eagles have just one day off.  On Thursday, they take on Central Washington University in a neutral site game played in Turlock, California. 
First pitch is at 1:00 PM.

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