IRVINE, Calif. – In a battle of nationally ranked softball teams, the Concordia Golden Eagles were able to hit three homers and salvage a split against No. 19 Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday.
Rylie Rohr tied the school record with 42 career home runs after hitting two over the fence in the non-conference doubleheader. Rohr joined former CUI hitters Amanda Fama and Amy Eilefson as the only softball players in program history with that many long balls.
Missy Nemeth also cranked her fifth homer of the season. She finished the day leading the PacWest conference with 23 RBI.
Game 1: No. 19 CSUSM 13, No. 20 CUI 3 (9 innings)
Nemeth crushed a two-run blast in the bottom of the third to put CUI in front 2-1.
After the Cougars retook the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. Rohr hit her first homer of the day in the bottom half of the inning to tie things up at 3-3.
But that's where we stayed for the next four frames.
Recently named PacWest Pitcher of the Week
Katlin Entrup pitched a solid game and struck out five over eight-plus innings of work. But CSUSM shortstop Aneesa Arredondo provided the difference-maker with a solo home run in the ninth over the center field wall to spark a ridiculous hit parade by the visitors. Cal State San Marcos compiled 10 runs, nine hits and batted around. It all added up to a slim 4-3 lead ballooning to a 13-3 final.
Senior centerfielder
Kaia Nisby made multiple tough catches as she continues to make a strong case for NFCA Gold Glove consideration.
Game 2: No. 20 CUI 3, No. 19 CSUSM 0
Rohr hit her second homer of the day on the first pitch see saw in game two. She put CUI on the board in the bottom of the second and that ended up being all the offense the Golden Eagles would need in the nightcap.
That is because two-time PacWest Pitcher of the Week
Cortney Koelmans fired another masterpiece. The senior worked quickly and tossed a complete game shutout in the rematch.
Koelmans struck out 10 and consistently got ahead in the count all evening. The Cougars were on their heels with a ton of 0-2 counts and only managed two total hits in game two.
Koelmans improved to 11-1 this season and she leads the PacWest Conference in wins.
Rohr added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to double Concordia's lead.
Mary Baccay later scored an unearned run when
Michalah Robison reached on an error to push the lead to 3-0.
The Golden Eagles will head north for five games in three days this coming weekend at the Otter Invitational hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay. CUI will face another ranked team in No. 16 Northwest Nazarene on Friday and Saturday as well as MSU Billings once each day. After those four games, CUI faces the host Otters in a single contest on Sunday.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI softball schedule
CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest softball standings