IRVINE, Calif. – Make it 13 wins in a row for the Golden Eagles on the softball diamond!
No. 22 Concordia University Irvine secured back-to-back victories over visiting Hawaii Hilo by plating three runs twice and holding the Vulcan offense in check.
The first game was paused in the middle of the second inning for about 40 minutes after an unorthodox lightning delay. The weather was beautiful on Concordia's campus for most of the afternoon, but there was a nearby lightning strike within five miles at the Orange County Great Park.
Game 1: #22 CUI 3, UHH 0
After both teams went three innings without scraping together a run, Concordia loaded the bases with three straight singles after the first out in the fourth.
Jocelyn Pino then sent a hard-hit bouncer towards the left side of the infield and everyone moved up a base to give CUI the lead.
Rylie Rohr touched home to make it 1-0.
Freshman
Tessa Jerue smacked her first career home run in the sixth inning to give the Green and Gold more cushion. Her two-run blast helped squash any hopes of a Vulcans comeback.
The bottom half of the lineup supplied all eight hits in the series opener, with Rohr and Jerue each contributing two. Catcher
Shelby Pfeiler, Pino, senior
Kaia Nisby and pinch-hitter
Virginia Nemeth each added a single.
Senior pitcher
Katlin Entrup tossed a complete game shutout and only allowed five hits. She struck out two and walked two, while hitting one batter. Entrup improved to 8-3 to help CUI reel off its 11th straight win in PacWest play and 12th overall.
Game 2: #22 CUI 3, UHH 2
Cortney Koelmans continued her dominance in the circle with another complete game.
The Two-time PacWest Pitcher of the Week struck out seven batters and only allowed two earned runs on six hits.
After falling behind 1-0, CUI tied it in the bottom of the first inning with a double steal pulled off by
Mary Baccay and
Rylie Rohr. Rohr drew the throw down to second, which allowed Baccay to head home with plenty of time.
A RBI single by
Megan Johnson later sent catcher
Kendall Flatt racing home to make it 2-1 Golden Eagles.
UHH tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth, but
Michalah Robison supplied another clutch hit for the home squad in the sixth inning, which proved to be the game-winner. Robison poked a RBI single to left center to plate Rohr, who had reached base courtesy a Vulcans error.
Koelmans improved to 9-1 in the circle. The nine wins lead the PacWest Conference.
The Golden Eagles and Vulcans will see each other again on Saturday as the two squads finish of their season series. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. PT with game two to follow.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI softball schedule
CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest softball standings
