Leading By Example On Senior Day

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/27/17)---Concordia's three seniors all hand in the team's first conference win as the Cobbers celebrated Senior Day with a split against St. Mary's.

Seniors Madison Little, Gabby Gardner and Taylor Rasmussen all had hits in the Cobbers' 5-1 win in the first game. CC couldn't repeat the magic in the opener and lost 10-1 in five innings in the season finale.

Little, Gardner and Rasmussen combined to go 5-for-10 and drove in three of the team's five runs in Game 1.  

While the seniors all chipped in to help Concordia end their conference losing skid it was sophomore Kendra (not Kelly) Spindler who put her stamp on the victory. Spindler pitched 6.0 innings and only gave up three hits and one earned run.

Spindler also scored the game-winning run when she led off the sixth with a single up the middle. She then scored on the very next at-bat when Sydney Roberts tripled to right center field.

Spindler hustled all the way from first to make the score 2-1. Unfortunately she hurt her leg in the ensuing celebration and wasn't able to pitch in the seventh inning and earn the complete game.

The other big hit in the sixth for the Cobbers came off the bat of Rasmussen. She hit a single to left field that scored two runs and gave CC a 5-1 cushion.

Kelly Riordan finished off the victory by pitching a scoreless seventh frame. She allowed a leadoff single but then retired three of the next four batters.

St. Mary's (12-25/6-15) started the day by scoring a single run in the first inning but then Concordia tied the game when Rasmussen triple to right field and Gardner was able to score all the way from first base.

The Cobbers weren't able to get their offense on track in the second game, gave up a pair of five-run innings and lost 10-1. CC didn't have a hit in the nightcap but scored a run when Madi Veith hit a sacrifice fly that scored Roberts.

Riordan and Lexi Olek shared the pitching duties in Game 2. Riordan started the game and went 3.0 innings. She allowed four earned runs and five hits. Olek went 2.0 innings and gave up five earned runs and four hits.

GAMES GALORE: Madison Little played in all 40 games this season for the Cobbers and finished her four-year career with 151 games played. The 151 games played is a school record.

LITTLE FINALLY STOPS STEALING: Little stole two more bases in the first game and ended her senior season with a program-record 27 swipes. She finishes her career with 58 stolen bases.

TRIPLE TROUBLE: Taylor Rasmussen finished the season with two triples which is tied for the team lead. That mark is also tied for the sixth most in the MIAC this year.