Lake Elsinore, Calif. - In day two of the D2 West Coast Challenge, the CUI softball team is back in action for another full slate of competition, as the Golden Eagles faced off against Stanislaus State and Western Oregon on Saturday. Continuing their early-season stretch against strong regional opponents, CUI looked to build momentum and test its depth in a pair of games at Rosetta Canyon.
CUI 9, STAN ST. 2
The Golden Eagles put together a complete performance on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Stanislaus State Warriors 9–2 on day two of the D2 West Coast Challenge at . With timely hitting, steady pitching, and constant pressure on the basepaths, the Golden Eagles improved to 7–3 on the season and continued their strong early-season momentum.
CUI struck first in the second inning when Noelani Ching launched her first career home run, which was a two-run home run to right center, giving the Golden Eagles an early lead they would never relinquish. Concordia continued to build separation in the third, as Jessica Im, Caitlynn Campbell , and Audrey Robles sparked a rally that resulted in three more runs, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Morgan Kneubuhler and a two-RBI single from Kaliya Yco.
The Golden Eagles' offense stayed relentless in the fourth inning, scoring three additional runs with help from Veronica Moore's RBI single and aggressive baserunning that forced Stanislaus State into defensive miscues. Audrey Robles added the exclamation point in the sixth inning, blasting a solo home run to center field to cap CUI's nine-run effort.
In the circle, Kira Morris earned the win, limiting the Warriors to just two runs while working efficiently through the lineup. The Concordia defense backed her up with timely outs and kept Stanislaus State from mounting any sustained comeback attempts. Kailani Tatr closed the game in relief, sealing the victory with a clean seventh inning.
With contributions throughout the lineup and strong pitching, the Golden Eagles showcased their balance and depth in the convincing win. Concordia will look to carry that momentum forward as the D2 West Coast Challenge continues.
CUI 2, WOU 1
The Concordia University Irvine softball team continued its strong run at the D2 West Coast Challenge with a gritty 2–1 victory over Western Oregon on Saturday afternoon in Lake Elsinore, Calif. In a tightly played, low-scoring contest, the Golden Eagles leaned on timely execution and outstanding pitching to improve to 8–3 on the season.
After Western Oregon struck first in the opening inning, CUI settled in and controlled the tempo the rest of the way. The Golden Eagles broke through in the fifth, capitalizing on pressure and defensive miscues to manufacture two decisive runs. Morgan Kneubuhler delivered a key sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run, and Kaliya Yco followed with an RBI single to give Concordia the lead it would not relinquish.
CUI's pitching staff was the difference, combining for a composed and efficient performance in the circle. Paetynn Snobar earned the win with 3.2 shutout innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Kacie Gossett closed the door with three scoreless innings to record the save, preserving the one-run advantage. Veronica Moore led the offense with a pair of hits, while the Golden Eagles' defense held firm in key moments to secure the win.
