AZUSA, Calif.- The No. 8 Concordia University Irvine softball team hit the road to face Azusa Pacific in a doubleheader for the second time this season. In the previous four game series against APU the Eagles won three out of the four games.
In game one of Tuesday's twin bill, CUI came in hot and took a 5-0 win over the Cougars. Concordia's offense shined and they had solid defense to back it up.
In game two CUI walked away with a 5-2 victory. Their bats stayed hot and they were able to hold down the Cougars on defense.
McKinsey Thorpe almost batted the cycle in game two being just one double short. She hit two singles, a triple, and a home run, ending the game an impressive 4-4.
Megan Massa and
Lauren Lopez also had outstanding offensive performances both batting 500 in game two.
Game One: CUI 5, APU 0
The Concordia offense exploded in the first inning. Massa started the inning with a single to left center and then swapped spots with Thorpe who also singled to left center. CUI cashed in another run when
Missy Nemeth doubled to right center.
PacWest Freshman of the Week Rylie Rohr came up next and knocked a single to the left side that scored Nemeth. The damage was done and the Eagles ended the inning up 3-0.
In the top of the second, the Concordia softball squad worked their way on base and ended up scoring a run from a first and third situation. Massa stole second base and
Lauren Fairchild advanced to home on the throw upping the score 4-0.
The Green and Gold were able to score again in the fifth inning. Nemeth began the inning with a single up the middle and was replaced by pinch runner
Julianna Covarrubias. Then came up
Sydni Dix with a double down the left field line, bringing home Covarrubias and making the score Eagles up, 5-0.
Nunes did a great job in the circle producing outs for her team. In the five innings Nunes threw she efficiently shut out the Cougars; only letting them get away with three hits. Nunes threw a total of 11 flyouts, three strikeouts, and one groundout.
Rae Flores came in to relieve in the sixth inning and finished the game out strong for CUI. She let up no hits, had two strikeouts, and produced three groundouts. Nunes and Flores combined had a complete shutout in game one.
Game Two: CUI 5, APU 2
The Eagles were locked 0-0 with the Cougars until the third inning when CUI busted open the inning. Massa started off the inning similarly to the first inning of the previous game with a single. Massa moved around the bases by a throwing error and a wild pitch, ending up at third with Thorpe up to bat. Thorpe hammered a triple to left field, bringing in Massa. Thorpe was aggressive on the bases and ended up scoring, also on a throwing error. The Eagles wrapped up the inning 2-0.
In the fifth inning Massa started the inning off again with a single. Thorpe crushed her first home run of the season over left center securing two RBIs and bringing the Eagles up 4-0.
The Green and Gold continued to put pressure on Azusa's defense. In the top of the sixth, Massa worked her way on base, scoring Lopez. Thorpe came up next tattooing a single to the left side and Massa advanced to third. The Cougars ended the inning with minimal damage and the Eagles ended the inning up 5-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, APU had a two-out rally that CUI's defense was able to shut down, limiting Azusa to two runs.
Kelsea Sweeney was awarded with the start in game two and lasted all seven innings. Sweeney did her job on the mound only giving away five hits and supplying 16 groundouts. Sweeney was tough on the mound and battled in key situations. In the bottom of the seventh, Sweeney had two runners in scoring position with the tying run at the plate and she came up big with a strikeout to end the game.
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