SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The No. 3 Concordia University Irvine softball team extended its winning streak to 15 games after picking up two road wins at Dominican University on Friday.  The Eagles took the matinee by a score of 6-0 behind a dazzling performance by pitcher Callie Nunes before the offense pounced on the Penguins for 18 runs in the second game.

Game One:

Callie Nunes tossed a complete game one-hit shutout on the mound to help the Eagles notch their 14th win in a row.  The sophomore standout from Modesto, Calif. improved to 10-1 on the season and partnered with starting catcher Mackenzie Graham to confuse the Dominican batting order.  Nunes walked seven but also struck out seven.  She was able to pitch her way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the second inning and the Penguins never threatened again.

"I thought Callie did a good job, she didn't have her best stuff but she competed and made a couple big pitches in key spots," said CUI head coach Crystal Rosenthal. "Mackenzie did a good job as always handling our pitching staff and keeping a good rhythm."

Graham went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and 4 RBI. Megan Massa and Amanda Gjertsen each had two hits as well. The Eagles led 3-0 after two frames and then doubled that lead in the top of the seventh inning. Michelle Lieng added an insurance run by cranking a pinch-hit solo home run over the left field wall to put the exclamation point on the 6-0 victory.

"That's the second time Michelle's come in and hit a pinch-hit home run for us this season," added Rosenthal. "She's done a good job coming in and contributing to both our offense and our defense which has helped her earn an opportunity to play. She pummeled that ball."

Game Two:

The Eagles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard again in the second game with Dominican before their starting pitcher took the mound. Lieng doubled in two runs in the first inning after Sydney Sprinkle announced her presence with a base hit and Graham reached base thanks to an error.

CUI kept the pressure on in the second inning when Massa smacked a RBI single to make it 3-0 Eagles. The next batter was Gjersten who crushed a 2-run bomb over the fence to push the lead to 5-0 for the visitors.

After the Penguins got back into the game by scratching together four runs against pitcher Jordan Quinn, true freshman Erika Morris was able to spell relief and hold the lead thanks to some solid defense behind her.  Lieng made an impressive diving catch in left field to end the third inning. Morris went on to pitch 3.1 innings while only allowing three hits and two runs (one earned). The Laguna Hills, Calif. native wound up earning her second career victory after picking up her first in a Concordia uniform earlier this week.

"Erika did a great job stepping in and keeping us in the game so the offense could do our job," added Rosenthal.

Morris and Quinn were backed by an offensive onslaught that came in the fourth inning. The Eagles batted around and scored nine times in that frame, turning a slim 5-4 lead into an insurmountable 14-4 cushion.  Morris helped her own cause with a bases clearing, three-run double and the Green and Gold pounded out six hits and worked multiple walks to pull away.

"It was just contagious," added Sydni Dix. "We've been really focusing on staying back on the ball and getting our barrell (of the bat) out and I really thought we did that well. I think it was our best inning of the season so far."

CUI put the finishing touches on the team's 15th straight victory by holding Dominican off the scoreboard in the fifth to finish the game in five frames, 18-6.

"I thought the offense was outstanding today," said Rosenthal. "We did a good job following the game plan and adjusting no matter what pitcher they threw at us."

"In game one, we didn't score as many runs but we were still hitting the ball hard and adjusting," added Lieng. "Then in game two, we ended up stringing hits together."

The Eagles will continue their road trip this weekend in the Bay Area.

For the full CUI softball schedule, click here.