IRVINE, Calif. – 12 wins, three shutouts and two undefeated runs through a weekend tournaments in back-to-back weeks.
Those are just some of the impressive numbers your Concordia University Irvine softball team has piled up in the early stages of the season.
The undefeated Eagles (12-0) moved up to No. 4 in the new NFCA DII rankings on Tuesday after starting the season at No. 10 in the NFCA Preseason Poll.
CUI swept Montana State Billings this past Tuesday before going a perfect 5-0 out in Arizona as
the Eagles emerged as Desert Stinger Tournament Champions.
CLICK HERE for the full Top 25 NFCA DII Poll
CUI was also the only softball team out of 21 participating schools to go 5-0 during the recent 2022 Concordia Kickoff Classic.
The Eagles were named Tournament Champs after defeating Chico State (who moved into the new Top 25 rankings at No. 19) and also Colorado Mesa, who was previously ranked No. 21 in the preseason poll.
"We have had a great start but what I am most proud of is the buy in by our players and staff," said CUI head coach
Crystal Rosenthal. "This has been a total team effort, and I am so happy for our players to be recognized for their hard work at the national level."
Eagles Sweep PacWest Weekly Awards
Senior pitcher
Erika Morris was tabbed as PacWest Pitcher of the Week. The Laguna Hills High School alum went 3-0 on the mound and allowed only one earned run in 10.2 innings. Morris currently has a miniscule 0.89 ERA and also a save in five outings.
Fellow senior and SAAC representative
Sydney Sprinkle was named the PacWest Player of the Week after hitting a scorching .545 at the plate (12-for-22) with 2 HR and 9 RBI during her recent seven-game hitting streak. She missed most of the Concordia Kickoff Classic due to injury but certainly made her presence felt after returning and has now started games at catcher and third base in addition to serving as the designated player. Sprinkle already has five multi-hit games including
her two-homer game against Montana State Billings.
The Eagles return to game action next week when they head up to Dominican to open up PacWest play.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule
CLICK HERE to go to the Tournament Central page for the 2022 Desert Stinger Tournament
CLICK HERE to go to the Tournament Central page for the 2022 Concordia Kickoff Classic
