IRVINE, Calif. – Three homers, a walk-off victory and a beautiful day in the sun.
It all added up to an emotional and memorable Senior Day on Saturday for 10 graduating Concordia University Irvine softball players and their families.
CUI defeated Azusa Pacific in a battle of the two top teams in the PacWest Conference before the Cougars salvaged a split in the rematch.
Game 1: No. 16 CUI 5, APU 4 (8 innings)
In the first game of the day, the Golden Eagles fell behind APU 4-0 after the first couple innings.
However,
Michalah Robison and
Shelby Pfeiler were able to spark the CUI offense in the bottom of the third.
Robison reached base with a double down the left field line. Pfeiler then promptly deposited a two-run homer over the wall to slice the deficit in half and make it a 4-2 game.
The fourth inning was almost like déjà vu. Robison again reached with a base hit, and Pfeiler again bashed a two-run homer to tie us up at 4-4.
Senior
Katlin Entrup pitched the first three innings before freshman
Jayden Nishi entered the circle and helped the cause with three shutout innings of relief.
Senior
Cortney Koelmans stepped in to the game in the top of the seventh and wound up limiting the Cougars to two scoreless frames and setting the stage for a walk-off opportunity.
And that's where
Missy Nemeth did her part to create a fantastic finish. The graduate student golfed the game-winning solo home run to begin – and finish – the eighth inning to the delight of the Concordia dugout and fans in the stands.
Senior centerfielder
Kaia Nisby added three hits for good measure in the opener.
Game 2: APU 5, No. 16 CUI 1
Catcher
Kendall Flatt had two hits including a RBI single in the rematch.
Cortney Koelmans pitched parts of three innings before giving way to
Megan Casper. Casper limited APU to only one run, but APU was able to hold a firm lead in the final frame.
The seventh inning was where things got dicey for the Cougars. CUI loaded the bases with two outs after walks to dangerous hitters
Missy Nemeth and
Shelby Pfeiler. APU certainly pitched those two batters very carefully considering they had already combined for three home runs in game one.
Ultimately, APU was able to get senior
Mary Baccay to pop up to the shortstop, who made a difficult catch on a potential bloop toward the fringe of the infield.
APU salvaged the split as it tries to move up in the D2 West regional rankings with the postseason just around the corner.
CUI already locked down the PacWest Conference regular season title and APU looks primed for a second place finish.
CUI will play two games in La Mirada this Wednesday, April 24 against Biola. This marks the last regular season conference doubleheader before the upcoming PacWest Conference Tournament in May.
CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest softball standings
CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule
