MIAC Opener In Minneapolis

STORY LINE: Concordia fell short in a pitcher's duel in the first game at Augsburg and then lost by the 8-run rule in the second game as they fell 3-1, 8-0 (5 inn.) to the Auggies in Minneapolis in the conference opener for both teams.

RECORDS: The two losses push the Cobbers' overall record under the .500 mark for the season. CC is now 7-9 on the year. Augsburg moves above the .500 mark and is now 10-8 on the year.

GAME 1 RECAP: The first game was a battle between Concordia starting pitcher Megan Gavin and Augsburg starter Sam Anderson. The two combined for 27 strikeouts and only allowed seven hits in the 14 frames of play. Gavin fanned 11 and gave up five hits while Anderson struck out 16 and gave up two base knocks.

The Auggies scored single runs in the second and third innings before the Cobbers scored their only run of the day in the fifth frame to get to within one at 2-1. Freshman Madison Kostelecky led off the inning when she doubled down the left-field line. Jayda Haugen pinch ran for Kostelecky and then scored on a 2-out double off the bat of Kate Wensloff. Augsburg finished off the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the fifth.

GAME 2 RECAP: Gavin pitched the first 3.0 innings and allowed one earned as the teams played through the first three innings with the score at 1-0. Augsburg the scored three times in the fourth and then four more in the fifth to end the game early due to the 8-run rule. The Cobbers once again had two hits in the game and they came courtesy of Maria Pake and Callie Ahlgren.

MEGAN MARCH: Sophomore pitcher Megan Gavin has now pitched in 70.0 innings this season and has 89 strikeouts. She now has 164 Ks in her first two seasons in maroon and gold. Her 89 strikeouts is third in the MIAC – only three behind Anderson from Augsburg for second place. Gavin also kept her season earned run average under 2.00. She now has a 1.90 ERA in her 14 games pitched.   

DEFENSE IS SOLID: Concordia only committed one error on the day and upped their fielding percentage to .956 for the season. That mark is fifth best in the MIAC this year and 30 points higher than last year's fielding percentage.

INNING STATS: The Cobbers' run in the fifth inning in Game 1 marked only the second run the team has scored in the fifth frame this year. The first inning has seen the most runs scored by the Cobbers and their opponents all year long. CC and their foes have scored a combined total of 44 runs in the first inning. The next highest frame is the third with 30 runs scored. 

UP NEXT: Concordia will travel south and complete their MIAC opening weekend by playin Gustavus in St. Peter on Sunday, Mar. 31 at 1 p.m. The Gusties are 10-6 on the season and split their MIAC opener at St. Mary's on Saturday.