LAS VEGAS, Nev.- The Concordia University Irvine softball team headed out to Las Vegas, Nevada to face off against Oklahoma Christian at Faith Lutheran High School.
 
Concordia, ranked No. 11 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) DII Poll, eagerly took on No. 10 Oklahoma Christian in the first game of a three game series.
 
In this battle of the Eagles, CUI came up on top of OC winning 9-4 in an exciting game.
 
Oklahoma Christian scored in the top of the first inning, but Concordia quickly answered back jumping ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first. McKinsey Thorpe started the inning off with a double and she later scored off of a wild pitch that also led Sydney Sprinkle to walk. Myka Hughes was put in to pinch run for Sprinkle and ended up scoring on a first and third play.
 
In the bottom of the third Sprinkle went long with a solo homerun bringing the score up to 3-1. 
 
Sprinkle also came in clutch in the bottom of the fifth inning when she gunned out an Oklahoma Christian runner who was stealing third. This play was crucial in cutting off OC's momentum, holding them to 3-2 for the inning.
 
The sixth inning is where the Green and Gold really made their mark. They racked up six insurance runs bringing the score up 9-2. Sydni Dix started the inning off with a walk. Dix was then replaced by Megan Johnson to pinch run. Lauren Fairchild got on base from an error by OC's third baseman and then Johnson scored on a wild pitch that also advanced Fairchild. Lauren Lopez then batted in Fairchild with a single. 
 
Next came up Rylie Rohr who walked. Both Lopez and Rohr advanced to the next bag when Kaia Nisby grounded out to first base. Lopez ended up scoring off of a wild pitch which resulted in a walk for Megan Massa. 
 
CUI continued to keep the pressure on OC. Thorpe hit a RBI single that scored Rohr and then Missy Nemeth kept the rally going with a two run RBI single that brought in Massa and Thorpe. 
 
Callie Nunes pitched a great game matching her debut against Vanguard of 10 strikeouts. She held Oklahoma Christian to two runs and was replaced by Erika Morris in the top of the seventh to close. 
 
In the seventh, Oklahoma Christian came back with two runs but they were quickly shut down by CUI's defense and the final score resulted 9-4. 
 
Tomorrow, Feb. 27, CUI and OC head back to Faith Lutheran High School for a doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to conclude the three game series.  
 
Click HERE to view the softball team's schedule.
 
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