IRVINE, Calif. – It was a day of firsts for the Concordia Golden Eagles as a freshman and a senior both hit their first career home runs during a Tuesday sweep of visiting Chaminade.
In the matinee, the Golden Eagles racked up the singles on their way to a shutout victory. First-year outfielder
Jessica Im and fourth-year outfielder
Kaia Nisby then provided a pair of memorable moments by going yard in the second game of the day. It was the first time either had hit a home run at the college level.
Before the PacWest doubleheader between the two teams, CUI moved up to No. 17 in
the new NFCA DII Top 25 poll after topping nationally ranked Cal State San Marcos and Northwest Nazarene last week.
CUI also got the nod as
the PacWest Softball Team of the Week after going 5-2 over a six-day stretch that included
four wins at the Otter Invitational.
Cortney Koelmans was named PacWest Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season. Plus,
Rylie Rohr was also tabbed as PacWest Player of the Week for the second time this spring after she hit three home runs and
broke the school record for career home runs against Cal State Monterey Bay.
Game 1: No. 17 CUI 4, Chaminade 0
Kaia Nisby was one of three Golden Eagles to contribute two hits in the series opener with the Silverswords. She started the scoring with a RBI single towards the gap in right to plate
Audrey Robles. Robles reached base twice on Tuesday with a walk and a single in the opener.
Mary Baccay added a RBI single in the fourth to make it 2-0. Rohr then followed by going to the opposite field and smacking another RBI single to score Nisby and push the lead to 3-0.
Shelby Pfeiler lofted a sacrifice fly in the fifth that made it 4-0 to close out the scoring.
Katlin Entrup was in control for most of the afternoon. The one time Chaminade looked like it was about to get a rally going, she worked out of a one out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth. After a brief meeting in the circle, Entrup coerced the next batter to pop up before notching a strikeout to end the threat and strand all three Silverswords on the bases.
Entrup finished with eight strikeouts and improved to 11-4 with the victory.
Entrup and Koelmans continue to be an impressive 1-2 pitching combo for the Golden Eagles and have now combined for FIVE PacWest Pitcher of the Week Awards before the end of March.
Game 2: No. 17 CUI 8, Chaminade 0 (5)
Speaking of Koelmans, she notched her conference-leading 14th victory after tossing five scoreless innings in the second game.
She did not have to go back out for the sixth or seventh frames because her teammates put up eight runs and put the mercy rule into effect.
Shelli Faulk supplied the walk-off RBI single to end the game early in the bottom of the fifth.
Im hit her first home run in a Concordia uniform to center field in the third inning. Nisby followed with a solo shot over the left field fence in the fifth.
CUI nearly batted around with eight batters coming to the plate in the fifth. Rohr and freshman third baseman
Tessa Jerue added singles that pushed the score to 7-0 before Faulk delivered the knock out blow.
ON DECK
The Golden Eagles expanded their hold on first place and improved to 16-0 in PacWest play.
CUI is back at home for a doubleheader rematch on Wednesday with Chaminade starting at 3 p.m. PT.
CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest softball standings
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI softball schedule
