IRVINE, Calif. – In a showdown of two nationally-ranked teams, Tuesday's non-conference doubleheader between No. 25 Concordia and No. 3 Cal State San Marcos did not disappoint.
One game went to extra innings while the rematch featured back-to-back home runs by two Golden Eagles – twice! Fittingly both teams won once and the margin was only one run on both occasions.
Overall, it was a solid showing for both teams who have high hopes for deep playoff runs and could very well face each other again in a few weeks in the NCAA DII Regional playoff bracket.
Game 1: No. 3 CSUSM 3, No. 25 CUI 2 (8 innings)
Concordia rallied to force extra innings in the first game of the day. Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, Veronica Morre singled to center field to score
Audrey Robles and cut the deficit in half. Later that same inning, senior
Caitlynn Campbell pushed a sacrifice fly to right field which scored
Morgan Kneubuhler to tie the contest.
Kacie Gossett pitched the entire game and was impressive in the circle. She finished with seven strikeouts and only one walk. She allowed seven hits and three earned runs.
Jillian Albayati provided the difference with a clutch solo home run in the eighth inning to give the Cougars the 3-2 victory.
Game 2: No. 25 CUI 4, No. 3 CSUSM 3
Third baseman
Audrey Robles and catcher
Morgan Kneubuhler crushed back-to-back solo homers in the rematch.
And they did it Twice!
In the bottom of the third, CUI jumped in front 2-1 on two consecutive pitches that were smacked over the outfield wall.
Cal State San Marcos rallied to tie the contest but in the fifth, Robles and Kneubuhler struck again.
Kneubuhler now leads the PacWest with 17 home runs this season and she also has an eye-popping 54 RBI on the year. Robles is right behind her with 11 bombs for Concordia and 39 RBI which both ranked second on the team.
Jayden Nishi improved to 13-3 with the victory after working 5.1 important innings. Gossett entered the circle again and wound up earning her third save of the year to help close it down.
A key moment on defense came in the final frame when a line drive up the middle was caught by second baseman
Maddie Cortez and she doubled off a nearby runner by tossing the ball quickly to shortstop
Kaliya Yco for two outs off of one swing.
Gossett then coerced the next batter to ground out to end the ball game.
ON DECK
Next up is a key doubleheader with Azusa Pacific on the road this Saturday to close out the regular season. CUI holds a half game lead on second-place Biola entering the final weekend.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule
Two wins by Concordia and one loss by Biola will clinch the regular season title for the Green and Gold.
The Golden Eagles have already secured a spot in the upcoming PacWest Conference Championships that will be hosted by Biola in La Mirada, Calif. in early May. CUI has its eye on clinching the regular season title and earning the No. 1 seed in the tournament by finishing strong.
CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest Softball Standings