Irvine, Calif. - After the first day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic, the CUI softball squad now has two wins under their belt and some momentum to carry into their next game. 

CUI 4, CSU Monterey Bay 3

Concordia topped familiar CCAA opponent CSU Monterey Bay in a 4-3 win on opening day.

Senior Bella Calvo got the start in the circle and struck out five batters and walked none in six innings pitched. Calvo's first career start came with a lot of pressure facing a tough Otter batting order, but ultimately Calvo delivered for her team and also picked up her first career win. 

Graduate student Kayla Rodgers added her first two hits as a Golden Eagle and went two-for-three with a double and a triple and two RBI. Junior Caitlynn Campbell also picked up her first hit wearing the Green and Gold and also snuck a stolen base from the Otters. 
 

CUI 5, Central Washington 0 

A third inning surge for the Golden Eagles led to a 5-0 shutout against the Wildcats from Central Washington. 

Kayla Rodgers carried her hot bat into the night, and tripled for the second time in two games. 

Head coach Crystal Rosenthal handed the ball to Jayden Nishi for game two, in which she had a career high of nine strikeouts while only allowing three hits. Nishi was able to keep the Wildcats on their toes in the batters box and made it difficult for them to get into a rhythm.

Redshirt Junior Kayla Simpson added one hit to the board and got to make her return to the field in her first start since returning from an injury. 

Sophomore Noelani Ching got her first career start at the third base position, and went two-for-two and found herself a way to get on base when she got the opportunity. 

The Golden Eagles will face the San Francisco State Gators and the ThunderWolves from CSU Pueblo on Saturday at 1:30 and 6:30 pm in the stadium of OC Great Park.

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