SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – After moving up to No. 3 in the NFCA DII rankings, the Concordia University Irvine softball team opened up conference play with two smooth victories over the Dominican Penguins. CUI is now a perfect 14-0 to start the season.

The Eagles saw three different players mash a home run while the offense as a whole pounded out 20 hits during Thursday's doubleheader in Northern California. Erika Morris and Katlin Entrup each picked up another victory on the mound and did not allow Dominican to hold the lead at any point during the twin bill.
 
Game 1: CUI 5, Dominican 3

After both teams were held scoreless in the first four frames, Lauren Lopez hit an inside-the-park home run to open the scoring in the top of the fifth inning.

Then after the Eagles loaded the bases with one away, freshman Mia Saucedo supplied a RBI single that scored Megan Johnson.  Sydney Sprinkle followed with a bases-clearing double to bring home three more runs and the CUI lead ballooned to 5-0.

That was all starter Erika Morris and reliever Cortney Koelmans needed during their time in the circle.  Morris improved to 4-0 with five strikeouts and only allowed five hits.  Koelmans was sensational and earned her first save while getting all of her six outs via the strikeout.
 
Game 2: CUI 10, Dominican 1

Eight different Eagles contributed at least one hit in this game, with leadoff hitter Megan Massa picking up three base knocks.

Newcomer Shelli Faulk crushed her first career home run as an Eagle in the top of the second with Lopez aboard.

The Green and Gold took a 3-0 lead a few outs later when Rylie Rohr smacked a solo shot in the top of the fourth inning. Rohr and Sprinkle each knocked in another run later in the sixth inning to push the CUI lead to 5-0.

Michalah Robison added a RBI single in the seventh. That clutch hit was followed by a RBI single by Massa and a double by Kaia Nisby that extended the score to 9-0 in favor of CUI.

Katlin Entrup turned in another amazing performance and kept the Penguins off balance the entire contest. She improved to 5-0 with a complete game and struck out 12 batters while only allowing one run on five hits.

The Eagles wrap up their series with the Penguins on Friday afternoon before facing Academy of Art on Sunday and Monday.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule