Strong winds caused a comedy of errors for the Concordia University softball team in a split with the University of Sioux Falls Cougars Monday night at Plum Creek Park in Seward, Neb. Concordia earned a comeback 14-8 victory in game one before falling 11-3 in game two.
Sioux Falls jumped out to 7-1 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning, helped out by five wind aided Concordia errors. Concordia jump-started its offense when Sioux Falls loaded the bases full of Bulldogs on three walks. Courtney Thomas quickly unloaded the bases with a two-run single. Concordia would go on to score five runs on three hits in the third inning to cut the Sioux Falls' advantage to 7-6. The Bulldogs would then rattle off eight unanswered runs to win game one 14-8.
Nicole Sempek earned her 12th win of the 2009 season, throwing a complete game, giving up eight runs (two earned) on 11 hits and striking out six.
Game two saw many of the same defensive lapses for the Bulldogs. With the game tied 3-3 heading into the top of the fourth, Sioux Falls jumped out to a big lead. The Cougars struck for eight runs on five hits. Concordia had a chance to get out of the inning but errors kept the Cougars coming to the plate.
Caitlin Lawrence picked up the loss for the Bulldogs. Lawrence threw 3 2-3 innings, giving up seven runs (none earned) on six hits.
Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box