Thunder And Lightning

FARGO, N.D. (4/24/16)—Kayla Nack supplied the thunder and Sydney Roberts added the lightning as Concordia split with Hamline in a doubleheader that was suspended for over two hours by a rain storm.

The Cobbers hit two game-changing home runs in the opener to post a 9-5 win and then had their comeback come up short in the second game and lost 8-3.

The win in Game 1 ended a three-game losing skid for Concordia. It was their third win in conference play. CC is now 16-16 in all games and 3-11 in league play. Hamline had their five-game win streak end in the opener. The Pipers are now 21-13 overall and 14-6 in the MIAC.

The first game was delayed in the bottom of the third inning for over two hours after a rain storm passed through the area. The teams started the doubleheader 25 minutes early then had to wait until 4:00 p.m. to resume the game with two outs in the bottom of the third.

The Cobbers had a multi-run homer before the storm hit and then used a grand slam after the storm went through to come away with the win.   

Nack and Roberts supplied the power for the Concordia offense in the first game. Nack connected on her first career grand slam in the six-run fourth inning to stake CC to a 9-2 lead. Roberts had put the Cobber out in front with a three-run homer to right field in the very first inning.   

Nack turned on a pitch hit it over the right-center field fence after two unearned runs had already scored in the inning. The Cobbers had five of the first six hitters reach base before Nack hit her first collegiate home run to give Concordia the seven-run lead.

Roberts' home run in the first inning was an opposite field number. Roberts flipped the barrel of the bat at the ball and it carried over the right field fence.

Junior pitcher Abigail Haraldson allowed single runs in the second and third. Staked with the 9-2 lead in the seventh she was able to keep the Pipers from getting close but gave up three runs in the final frame.

Haraldson allowed four hits through the first six innings of work. She only allowed two earned runs in the game and struck out four as she continues to add to her single-season strikeout total.

Both teams had six hits in the opener. Nack was the only CC player with more than one hit in the game. She went 2-for-4 and had the four RBI.

Concordia stayed close in the finale until Hamline broke the game open with a single run in the fourth, two in the fifth and then one more in the sixth.

The Cobbers trailed 8-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh but plated two runs but then stranded runners on first and third.

Concordia took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Nack singled, stole second and then came home on an infield error.

The Cobbers had six hits in the nightcap and this time it was Madison Little who had the only multiple-hit game. She went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot and drove in one of the three runs.

Haraldson started the second game as well but lasted only the first three innings. Kali Covert pitched the fourth and fifth frames and allowed only one earned run before Mariah Prokott finished the game with two innings of work.

SHE'S GOT THE NACK
Not only was Kayla Nack's grand slam her first career home run it was also only the third extra-base hit of her career. Nack went  2-for-4 in the first game and that was only the third multiple-hit game of her career.

HEY COACH, I'M GETTING CLOSER
Freshman Sydney Roberts started the twinbill with her fifth home run of the season. That mark is one behind the single-season record of six held by assistant coach Kaia Sele who had six in 2011 and 2012. Sele is one of five players who are tied for the record with six long balls in a season. Amanda Johnson had six in 2006, Erin Gunderson accomplished the feat in 2002 while Allison Haaland had six in 1999 and Heidi Mueller put up the same number in 1998 and 1999.

Roberts is now tied for fourth in the MIAC in home runs and seventh in slugging percentage.

IT TAKE A THIEF
Junior Madison Little swiped her 15th stolen base of the season in the second game. She is 15-for-17 on the year. Her 15 swipes are tied for fifth in the MIAC and the most by a CC player since 2007 when Kelli Niess set the single-season record by stealing 24 bases.

#WINNING
Abigail Haraldson recorded her 11th win of the year in the opener. That is a career high for wins in a season. Last year she had six in 17 games started. The 11 wins ties her for second most in a single season. The record for wins by a CC pitcher in a year is 19 set by Erin Gunderson who went 19-10 in 2000.

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will be hoping for drier weather when they host Gustavus on Tuesday, Apr. 26 at 3:30 p.m. CC will then play at St. Mary's on Saturday before finishing off the season with a pair of conference doubleheaders next week.