IRVINE, Calif. - The first-place Golden Eagles secured a shutout victory in Monday's matinee thanks to a strong performance by freshman sensation Kacie Gossett before another low-scoring game commenced in the rematch.

Concordia University Irvine still leads the PacWest Conference softball standings with an eye-popping 17-3 record in league action. CUI is also 27-6 overall on the campaign.

Game 1: No. 21 CUI 3, Jessup 0

Mya Diaz supplied the first run of the game with a RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning.

Caitlynn Campbell would stretch the Concordia lead to 2-0 in the fourth on a RBI double to the right centerfield gap. Shortstop Kaliya Yco came around to score on the play.

One of the most memorable moments of the day occurred in the top of the sixth inning.  NAIA National Player of the Year Sarah Giles was robbed of a base hit by Concordia third baseman Audrey Robles, who speared a screamer off the bounce and smoothly threw Giles out with a long throw over to first baseman Shelli Faulk. 

Robles also provided an insurance run, when she singled down the left field line in the fifth and scored outfielder Kayla Rodgers to make it 3-0.

Gossett was in a groove in the circle and limited the Warriors to only four hits in the series opener. She struck out six, walked only one batter and improved to 7-0 in her debut season with the Green and Gold.

Game 2: Jessup 1, No. 21 CUI 0

The only run to cross the plate in the rematch came in the top of the first inning, when PacWest Player of the Week Maddy Ibarra uncorked a solo home run to deep center field.

The blast came after a 1-2 pitch was delivered close to the strike zone by starting pitcher Bella Calvo, but it was called a ball for being just a hair too high. That sequence loomed large as both teams tried to tack on runs, but neither offense could piece together a big inning.

With the exception of that one hit by Ibarra, Calvo and freshman right-hander Kailey Estes combined to shutout the Warriors the rest of the way.

Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, CUI only managed two hits against Alexandria Himes.  Faulk and Robles each supplied a single but were stranded.

Concordia also had the tying run aboard in the fifth, when Mya Diaz reached second base on an error. But even with Diaz in scoring position, Jessup was able to get out of the jam and keep CUI off the scoreboard.

These two teams will tangle again on Tuesday, April 1st (no joke) with their doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. PT

CLICK HERE for the updated CUI softball schedule