IRVINE, Calif. – On a day where their pitchers fared better than their hitters, the Eagles scratched together enough runs to salvage a split and improve to 3-1 overall. Concordia University Irvine bounced back with a win over Stanislaus State after losing their first game of the day against Chico State.

Game 1 – No. 20 Chico State 4, No. 10 CUI 0

In a highly anticipated matchup of 2-0 nationally-ranked teams, CUI decided to tab freshman Rae Flores to make her debut on the mound. The lefty pitched well and worked her way out of trouble on multiple occasions. She tossed 4.1 innings, struck out four and walked two while allowing only three hits and two runs (one unearned).

"Rae was good in her first college start," surmised CUI head coach Crystal Rosenthal. "I thought she was a good matchup (for us) for them and she proved to be. I brought Callie in there to get us a strikeout and try to get us out of the inning and she minimized the damage at least."

Unfortunately, Concordia's hitters had to face Chico State's ace pitcher Brooke Larsen. The former PacWest foe who transferred from Academy of Art a couple seasons ago racked up 13 strikeouts and pitched a complete game.

Senior Michelle Lieng arguably had the best swings against Larsen, but she was robbed of a RBI single down the first base line when Wildcats rightfielder Karter Williams completed a rare throw to the first baseman for the third out of the second inning. Megan Massa and Amanda Gjertsen each had a single, but the Eagles could not move either of them around the diamond to scratch together a run against the Wildcats.

Williams reached base three times as Chico State's leadoff hitter and helped set the table as her team earned the 4-0 win.

"That can't be the way we hit in a game," added Rosenthal. "That's twice now so that's definitely a takeaway. We're definitely not at a place to compete at a level I'd like to."

Game 2 – No. 10 CUI 4, Stanislaus State 2

CUI responded to their first setback of the year by doubling up Stanislaus State and playing small ball. Gjertsen connected for two solid doubles and each time her hit led to a run for the Eagles. The senior third baseman scored on an error in the second inning and then pinch-runner Julianna Covarrubias was able to hustle home in the fourth after McKinsey Thorpe beat out an infield single. CUI led 2-0 after four innings.

Jordan Quinn pitched three scoreless frames before being replaced by sophomore Erika Morris. Morris struck out two and tossed a 1-2-3 fourth inning before the Warriors rallied to tie the game in the fifth.

Freshman slugger Missy Nemeth picked up her teammates by leading off the fifth inning with a lazer beam to the wall in left field. On most fields it would have been an easy home run, but this one stayed inside the park and Nemeth cruised into second base. Newcomer Dani Cole took over for her as a pinch-runner and the Eagles manufactured a run thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Gjertsen and a timely sac fly by Alyssa Turner which made it 3-2 Concordia.

The same formula worked in the top of the seventh when the Eagles added an insurance run. Sarah Kretschmar led off with a double and then was moved to third base on a sac bunt by Lauren Lopez. Megan Massa lofted a fly ball deep enough to plate Krestchmar to make it 4-2 Concordia. That wound up being the final score.

"That's Conc Ball. Base hit, sacrifice, sacrifice," added Rosenthal. "We came up with a couple clutch sac flies, that's how we won that second game."

Flores entered after Cole scored the go-ahead run and earned her first career save while Morris was the winning pitcher of record.

Even though the Eagles salvaged a win in their second game of the day, Coach Rosenthal admitted there is plenty room for improvement.

"We did not bring our best effort," explained Rosenthal. "We are nowhere near where we'd like to be but tomorrow is a good chance to respond."

CUI and Cal State Dominguez Hills wrap up the Concordia Kickoff Classic with a matinee at 12:30 p.m. in the softball stadium over at Great Park on Sunday. Both teams enter their tournament finale with 3-1 records. HPU and Biola are also 3-1 entering their last contests while Chico State is the only team with a perfect 4-0 mark.

The Green and Gold will then return to their home ballpark at Eagle Field on Saturday, Feb. 15 for their next non-conference games against St. Martin's.

For the Concordia Kickoff Classic tournament webpage, click here.

For the full CUI softball schedule, click here.