Sele Sees Beach Balls In MIAC-Opening Split

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (3/28/12)—Kaia Sele went 5-for-8, hit a home run, had five extra base hits, scored three runs and drove in three more in helping Concordia split with St. Olaf in the conference opener for both teams. The Cobbers outhit the Oles in the opener but lost 4-3 and then rallied to win the second game 8-3.

Concordia (3-12/1-1 MIAC) hammered out 18 hits on the day which is in stark comparison to only the five they had in their two losses against Valley City State on Friday. On top of the quantity of hits that CC recorded, they also put up quality with nine of the 18 going for extra bases.

Sele was the leader of the offensive outburst. She went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in the opener and followed that up by going 3-for-4 with three doubles in the second game. "The ball was like a beach ball coming across the plate for her," commented head coach Megan Johnson. "She was on the ball all day and kept driving it into the gaps."

The Cobbers fell behind 4-0 in the first game despite having as many hits as St. Olaf in the first five innings. CC finally got on the board when Kesley Jones singled home Ashley Tibbetts. Paige Beseman scored the second run when she came across on an error. Sele then brought Concordia to within one with her first home run of the year. Her solo shot was all the Cobbers could come up with in the final frame.

Concordia had six other players with one hit each in game 1. Jones went the distance on the mound. She allowed only four hits but the Oles made the most of those bas knocks and plated the four runs.

The Cobbers took control of the second game from the very first inning. CC scored at least one run in each of the first four frames and had two runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Sele had a pair of doubles in the first four innings and Kayla Hendrickson drove in two runs in the second inning.

Besides Sele's 3-for-4 performance, Joelle Link and Jones had two hits each in the nightcap. Hendrickson went 1-for-4 with the two RBI in the second.

Freshman MacKenzie Weatherly pitched seven strong innings to get the win. Although she allowed 11 total hits, she did not give up an extra-base knock. "I was really happy with the way Mac (MaKenzie) responded after her last outing," said Johnson. "After a tough game against Valley City, she was more confident today and really helped out the team with her performance."

Concordia will return home to face Carleton on Saturday, Mar. 31 at 1:30 p.m. at the Jake Christiansen Athletic Complex.