A Fourth Straight Split In Florida

CLERMONT, Fla. (3/04/20)--- Cobber fans didn't have to be in Florida, or have access to the internet, to guess what happened in Concordia's fourth, 2-game day of their spring training trip.

Congratulations if you successfully guessed that Concordia won its first game and then dropped the second. The split of the two games marks the fourth straight for the Cobbers who are now 4-4 in Florida and 6-4 overall.

The Cobbers won the first game with a 3-run seventh inning to break open a 5-5 tie and beat Saint Vincent (Pa.) 8-5. Concordia then gave up an 8-run fourth inning in the nightcap and lost a 10-1 decision in five innings against Roanoke (Va.).

Sophomore Maria Pake had a hit in each game as she continued her early-season hitting success. Callie Ahlgren led all CC players with a 3-hit first game and sophomore Madison Kostelecky drove in a team-high three runs in the win over Saint Vincent.

Megan Gavin persevered in the circle in the first game as she stuck out nine but gave up five earned runs to collect her fourth win of the year.

GAME 1
The Cobbers got on the board first with a single run in the top of the first as they were the visiting team against the Bearcats.

Pake recorded her fourth triple of the year when she led off the game with a 3-bagger to left center. She came home to score on Riley Bergstrom's RBI ground out.

Concordia doubled its lead in the top of the fourth when Kostelecky doubled down the left field line which drove home Ahlgren who had a 2-out double to left field.

Saint Vincent took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth but then the Cobbers responded with the first of their decisive 3-run innings.

Concordia plated three runs in the fifth on five hits. The biggest was Kostelecky's single through the left side of the infield which brought in a pair of runs.

The Bearcats refused to go away and tied the game when they scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Cobbers won the game in the final frame when freshman Hannah Wilke led off with a single, Ahlgren followed with a perfectly placed bunt single and then Kenzie Leither drove in both players with a double to left field. Riley Irmen would complete the inning with a RBI single down the left field line.

Concordia outhit the Bearcats 13-6 in the game. Ahlgren went 3-for-4 and scored two runs while Kostelecky was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Irmen had the other multiple-hit game with a 2-for-4 outing.

Gavin went 7.0 innings, struck out nine and gave up six hits. All five runs against were earned and Gavin now has a team-leading 1.75 earned run average and has struck out an MIAC best 41 batters.

GAME 2
The second game against Roanoke was a 1-run affair except for the fourth inning when the Maroons scored eight runs on eight hits and rolled to the 10-1 win.

Concordia had one hit in the game and that came courtesy of Pake in the third inning. Irmen reached on an error after the first two batters in the inning got out and then Pake had a single to send Irmen to third. She then came home on an RBI fielder's choice from Emma Redlin.

The Cobbers used a pair of newcomers in the circle in the game against Roanoke. Amber Taylor pitched the first 3.2 inning and then Ashley Hendrickson finished off the final 1.1 innings and only allowed one hit.               
      
UP NEXT: Concordia will finish off their game schedule in Florida on Thursday, Mar. 5 when they play Ohio Northern at 2 p.m. (cst) and then Chatham (Pa.) at 4:15 p.m. Both games will be contested at the Hancock Recreational Complex in Clermont, Fla.