IRVINE, Calif. – The first day of the 2026 Concordia Kickoff Classic started slowly but ended with a loud statement as the PacWest Conference preseason favorites secured victories in their first two games.

Playing at the beautiful Orange County Great Park as the school hosted the annual tournament for the sixth time, Concordia University Irvine rode a pair of amazing outings from their pitchers and some timely plays.

There are 25 teams playing in this year's Concordia Kickoff Classic – the most in the tournament's brief history. This year's field includes the entire PacWest Conference, as well as a number of teams from the CCAA, GNAC, RMAC and even the University of Nebraska-Kearney from the MIAA.

CLICK HERE to go to the TOURNAMENT CENTRAL web page and CLICK HERE for the full Tournament Schedule with final score updates.

Here's a look at how Day One went for the host Golden Eagles.

Game 1: CUI 1, Fort Lewis 0

A great pitching performance backed by a timely defensive catch and a break through score helped Concordia University Irvine win its first game of the season.

Junior lefty Jayden Nishi pitched a complete game shutout over seven impressive innings against the Skyhawks.  She finished with five strikeouts and only allowed five hits.

Sophomore second baseman Mya Diaz snagged a well-hit ball to help Nishi and the Golden Eagles get out of a bases loaded jam in the second.

CUI actually did not have a hit for the first few innings until newcomer Morgan Kneubuhler collected her first single as a Golden Eagle.

Veronica Moore also helped the cause with a clutch base knock to right field to lead off the sixth. CUI eventually scored the lone run of the game on an error, which proved to be the difference-maker in a close contest. Recent CUI addition Kaitlin Murphy came in as a pinch-runner and scored from second base when Kneubuhler reached via an error.

Game 2: CUI 5, San Francisco State 2

In the second game of the day for Concordia, Kacie Gossett followed suit and tossed a complete game of her own to help the Golden Eagles lock down their second win. Gossett struck out six batters in seven innings and allowed two runs and seven hits.

CUI trailed 2-1 entering the sixth inning before the tides turned. Right fielder Caitylnn Campbell and left fielder Alyssa Struthers both made sensational running catches deep in the outfield to keep it a close ball game. Struthers relay throw back to the infield even nabbed a Gator off of second base for a key inning-ending double play.

Pinch-hitter Maddie Cortez then started Concordia's rally in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single. With the rally hats clamoring for more, the Golden Eagles kept the lineup moving and took a 4-3 lead on a clutch two-run single by Alyssa Struthers. All-PacWest Conference outfielder Jessica Im followed suit with a key two-run single of her own to give CUI some insurance and a solid 5-2 lead. That would end up being the final margin as the Green and Gold improved to 2-0 after the first day of the tournament.

Concordia plays again at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday against University of Nebraska-Kearney and then at 6:30 p.m. against nationally-ranked Western Washington in the stadium.

CLICK HERE for the updated CUI softball schedule