A Pair Of 8-7 Walk-Off Wins

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (2/27/15)--- Concordia posted a pair of thrilling walk-off 8-7 victories in the second set of games on their annual spring break trip to Florida.

The Cobbers needed extra innings in the first game of the day to beat Cleary (Mich.) on a walk-off double in the eighth inning from senior Ashley Tibbetts. Madison Little was the hero in the second game as she cracked a two-run walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to help CC overcome a 7-6 deficit and beat St. Catharine (Ky.) 8-7.

The two wins even Concordia's record at 2-2 for their southern trip. It's the first time since 2009 that the Cobbers have been at .500 after their first four games of the year.

Concordia pounded out 21 hits on the day after only collecting four in the first two games of the year on Wednesday.

Little was the only Cobber hitter to have multiple-hit games against both teams on Friday. She went 2-for-5 in the opener against Cleary and then came away with a 3-for-5 performance against St. Catharine and had three RBI including the big two-run single to earn the win.

Concordia exploded for seven runs in third inning against Cleary. CC recorded the seven-run inning on six hits and were helped by three Cougar errors. Those seven runs would all the Cobbers needed until the eighth inning when Tibbetts doubled home freshman Mackenzie McCloud with two outs to win the game.

The biggest hit in the third inning came off the bat of Dominique Giesen who clouted the team's first home run of the year. Giesen went yard to drive in three runs in the inning. It was the second long ball of her career.   

Tibbetts was one of four CC players with more than one hit in the first game. She went 2-for-5 and had two RBI.

Besides Tibbetts and Little, freshman catcher Mackee Hoffman was 2-for-4 with a runs scored and an RBI and Mackenzie Jensen was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Sophomore Abigail Haraldson earned the win in the opener by pitching a scoreless eighth inning. She took over from starter Hillary Rotunda who pitched the first seven innings and struck out four.

The Cobbers used another big inning in the second game to get to the game-winning point in the final inning. CC struck for five runs on one hit in the fourth frame. Concordia was once again were aided by three miscues from the opposing team's defense.

The Cobbers tacked one more run on in the bottom of the sixth but then watched the Patriots score three times to take a 7-6 lead headed to the bottom of the seventh.
Concordia had 10 hits in game 2. Little and Giesen both had three-hit games. Giesen was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Kellie Morehouse also recorded a multiple-hit game against the Patriots. She was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Cobber pitchers switched their roles for the final game of the day. Haraldson started the game and went the first five innings before Rotunda picked up the win by pitching the sixth and seventh frames.

Concordia will take a one-day break before continuing with their spring break schedule. The Cobbers will face Concordia (Ill.) and then St. Catharine again on Sunday, Mar. 1.