Seniors Start Florida With A Set of Wins

CLERMONT, Fla. (2/28/17)---- Seniors Abigail Haraldson and Madison Little led by example in the team's first two games of the season. The pair helped the Cobbers post a 6-3 win over Finlandia (Mich.) in the opener and a dramatic 5-4 walkoff win over Houghton (Mich.) in the second game on the team's annual spring trip to Florida.

Haraldson pitched the first game for Concordia, didn't allow an earned run, struck out nine and went a full seven innings to hand first-year head coach Chad Slyter his first win at the helm of the Cobbers.

Little didn't make an out in the two games, stole six bases on the day and came around to score the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh in the second game.

Little set the stage for the thrilling 5-4 win over the Highlanders. She got hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the bottom of the seventh with Concordia trailing 4-3. Little promptly stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. After a fly out, sophomore Sydney Roberts advanced Little to third on a ground out to second.

Down to their final out, a pair of underclassmen came up huge. Freshman Betsy Asp singled home Little to tie the game at 4-4 and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Madi Veith then sent the Cobber fans who made the trek south back to their hotel rooms on a happy note. She singled and Asp, who was running on contact, beat the throw home to give CC the 5-4 win.

The two-run seventh was the second inning in the second game where Concordia scored two runs. CC also put up a two-spot in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Little was once again the catalyst for the multiple-run inning as she got on base from the leadoff spot. Like the seventh, she stole second immediately and advanced to third on a ground out. Roberts brought her home when she reached on an error. Asp and Veith walked to load the bases and then Roberts scored on a wild pitch.

The other run in Game 2 came in the second inning when Nicole Johannes singled home Brooke Ankerfelt after Ankerfelt singled with one out.

Sophomore pitched Kendra Spindler went the full seven innings in the circle for the Cobbers. She allowed seven hits but only one earned run. She struck out a pair of batters.

Haraldson kept the Cobbers in the first game until the offense woke up and scored six runs in the final three innings.

Concordia trailed 1-0 heading into the top of the fifth and then scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead – a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game.

The big hit in the fifth came off the bat of Devonie Smith who doubled home both runs with two outs in the frame.

CC then added four more runs in the seventh on three hits. Senior Taylor Rasmussen tripled to start the inning and then came around to score on Little's double in the very next at bat. Roberts, Asp and Lexi Olek had the other RBI for CC.

Haraldson, who set the school record for strikeouts in a single season last year, wasted little time announcing her power in 2017. She struck out the second batter she faced in the game and fanned the side in the sixth inning. She allowed seven hits, walked only one and came away with the nine K's.

Little went 3-for-3 on the day, scored four runs and also coaxed three walks.

Asp and Ankerfelt also had three hits in the two games while Veith and Rasmussen came away with two hits each.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will continue with their two-games-a-day schedule in Florida when they play a pair of teams from Pennsylvania. The Cobbers will square off against Waynesburg at 8 a.m. and then play York at 10:30 a.m. Waynesburg is 1-3 on the year with a win over MIAC opponent St. Mary's. York is 5-2 this year.