Concordia falls to Madonna University and Olivet Nazarene University
Concordia suffered softball losses to Madonna University and Olivet Nazarene University on Monday in Arizona. The Bulldogs dropped to 3-3 on the year.
Madonna University, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA Preseason Poll, rallied for a 5-3 win over the Bulldogs in the opening game of the day.
Concordia took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Nicole Mapes (Greeley, Colo.) doubled, and Amber Topil (Seward, Neb.) drove her in to put the Bulldogs on top. The score remained the same until the fifth inning. A Madonna fielding error allowed two runs to score, and the Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead.
Entering the bottom of the fifth inning, Madonna had just two hits. In the fifth, the Crusaders erupted for five runs on six hits to take control of the game. Ashley Shay had a 2-run double, and Erica Landess added an RBI double for the Crusaders in the inning. Jackie Barley and Tara LaMilza had RBI singles in the inning for Madonna.
Concordia had two hits in the sixth inning but was unable to put any runs on the board. The Bulldogs went down in order in the seventh inning, and Madonna secured the 5-3 win.
Madonna finished with eight hits compared to seven for Concordia. Nicole Baker (Arvada, Colo.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Topil was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the way for the Bulldogs offensively. Amanda Beeson (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound for Concordia.
Olivet Nazarene (No. 15 in the NAIA Preseason Poll) used a pair of big innings to pull away for a 14-3 win over the Bulldogs in five innings.
The Tigers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning. The Tigers had two homers and five total hits in the inning. Molly Anderson and Lindsey Jarrett each delivered 2-run homers for Olivet Nazarene in their big first inning. Anderson added an RBI single in the second inning to give the Tigers a 6-3 advantage.
Concordia got back in the game in the fourth inning. Baker and Clarissa Eloge (Rising City, Neb.) each singled, and Mikaela Klein (Grand Island, Neb.) followed with a 3-run homer for the Bulldogs to cut the lead to 6-3. The Bulldogs loaded the bases later in the inning but were unable to pull any closer.
The Tigers came right back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Katie Hannagan drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Anderson knocked in another run with a double to give Olivet Nazarene an 8-3 lead.
Concordia left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, and Olivet Nazarene ended the game with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Jarrett and Jordan Reynolds each had RBI doubles, and Hannah Gardner delivered a grand slam to end the game.
Concordia totaled just five hits in the game. Baker and Eloge had two hits apiece. Elizabeth Young (Grand Prairie, Texas) suffered the loss on the mound to fall to 1-1 on the year. Young allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits with no walks and five strikeouts in four innings of work.
Molly Anderson was 3-for-3 with four RBI’s, and Hannah Gardner was 2-for-4 with five RBI’s to lead the way for Olivet Nazarene. Kelly Blucker allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts to pick up the win on the mound for the Tigers.
Concordia will continue tournament play on Wednesday with games against Purdue University North Central and Rockhurst University.