LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine softball teamed improved to 6-3 after two Friday games at the D2 West Coast Challenge.
The first victory was in hand for most of the ball game against Simon Fraser, while the nightcap with Colorado Christian needed extra innings to decide a winner.
Game 1 – CUI 6, Simon Fraser 1
Kacie Gossett tossed five shutout innings and only allowed one hit and two total base-runners.
Ava Valenzuela helped the cause and entered the circle to help get the final six outs needed for the victory.
On the offensive side,
Veronica Moore got things started with a RBI single in the first inning to plate
Jessica Im for a 1-0 lead. Im would score again during a four-run second inning that saw CUI take a commanding 5-0 lead.
Serena Velez added an insurance run with a RBI single in the top of the seventh to make it 6-0 Concordia. The Golden Eagles wound up prevailing 7-1 despite the Leafs getting a few base-runners on in the seventh when they attempted to mount a comeback. Gossett improved to 3-0 with the victory.
Game 2 – Colorado Christian 4, CUI 3
Concordia's second game of the day was delayed by 55 minutes because its next opponent, Colorado Christian, decided to play an epic 10-inning affair with Cal State Dominguez Hills. CCU ultimately won 13-11, switched fields and almost immediately started playing with the Golden Eagles.
Turns out extra innings would once again be in the cards.
And there were two huge plays at the plate that affected the outcome.
The first one came in the third inning. CCU sent a runner home from first base on a double to the wall, and a great throw home had a chance to nab the runner but she was called safe and the Cougars took a 1-0 lead. That extended the inning with two outs and CCU would get another clutch hit to push it to a 2-0 advantage.
But Concordia was motivated to even the score and did so with great defensive plays and one big swing.
Freshman catcher
Maddie Jeanblanc pulled off a superb snap throw in the fourth to pick off a runner at third base. Then, shortstop
Kaliya Yco made a diving catch and spiked the ball to end that inning.
Jayden Nishi pitched effectively and kept the hot-hitting Cougars quiet for most of the contest. The junior lefty also robbed another Cougar of a base hit when she snared a screamer sent right back at her in the circle.
Audrey Robles continued her hot start to the season with a timely 2-run bomb over the fence. Her home run tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning.
The second big play at the plate came in the bottom of the seventh. CCU had a chance to end the game but a great relay by the Golden Eagles on a base hit made for another bang-bang play at the dish. The Cougar appeared to get underneath the tag, but the call was out and the Golden Eagles still had life with us all square at 2-2.
Caitlynn Campbell delivered a clutch RBI single down the right side to put CUI up 3-2 in the Top of the 8th. Robles almost gave another softball a long ride over the fence but alas a deep fly out ended any chance of tacking on some insurance.
Turns out, Colorado Christian wasn't done scoring runs either. The Cougars rallied for two runs late to cap off a great game between both teams that ended 4-3 in favor of Colorado Christian.
CLICK HERE for the D2 West Coast Challenge Tourney Schedule
Concordia will continue playing in Lake Elsinore this weekend. On Saturday, the Golden Eagles face Stanislaus State and Western Oregon. Then on Sunday, CUI closes this stretch out with a game against Cal State Monterey Bay.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule
CLICK HERE for Tournament Central for the D2 West Coast Challenge
