The Wait Is Over: K Queen Is Crowned

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (4/21/21)---The wait is over. Senior Megan Gavin struck out nine in Concordia's first game with Bethel then returned in Game 2 and fanned five to become the school's all-time career strikeout leader.

Gavin's record-breaking performance came in a pair of losses against the Royals. Concordia dropped a 4-0 decision in Game 1 when Gavin got the start and then fell 9-5 in the nightcap when Gavin broke the record in the sixth inning.

Concordia has now lost three straight after winning five consecutive games. CC is now 17-15 overall and 5-9 in the MIAC. Bethel improves to 17-7 in all games and 10-4 in league play.

GAME 1 RECAP: The first game started with the Cobbers conceding a single run in the first and second and then allowing a pair of runs in the third. Those four runs would be all the scoring in the game as Gavin and Royal's pitcher Kayla Simacek limited the offenses to two total hits in the final 3.5 innings of play.

The Cobbers were outhit in the first game 7-1. CC's lone hit came in the sixth inning when Riley Bergstrom knocked a 1-out double to left center which put runners on second and third. Taylor Erholtz then walked to load the bases but Concordia was unable to get a run across as they finished the inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Gavin struck out nine in the opener and gave up seven hits and four runs. The 9 Ks brought her career total to 437 which was three shy of tying the school record of 440 set by Abby Haraldson.

GAME 2 RECAP: Concordia looked like they were headed to a split on the day when they scored five runs in the very first inning of Game 2 to take a 5-0 lead.

The Cobbers had four hits in the first frame and were helped with three walks. Bergstrom led off the 5-run first with a single to left field. Amy Quast followed with a single to right center and then Erholtz walked to load the bases. Bergstrom scored the first run on a ground ball from the bat of Ashley Hendrickson. Hannah Wilke followed with an RBI single. Kenzie Leither had an RBI walk in the inning and Karissa Finnigan finished the scoring with an RBI single to center field.

Unfortunately for the Cobbers, their four hits in the first inning would be half their total for the game. CC posted a pair of hits in the fourth and then had single hits in the fifth and sixth.

Bethel was able to trim the Cobbers' lead to two runs after the first inning when they scored three times on four hits. The Royals cut the lead to one with a single run in the second and then overtook CC with a 4-run fourth.

Quast and Finnigan had the multiple-hit games for the CC offense. Quast was 3-for-4 with a run scored from the No.2 spot in the order and Finnigan was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Tori Herrboldt and Amber Taylor pitched the first 3.1 innings. Gavin entered the game with one out in the fourth frame. She upped her strikeout total to 438 with a 1-out K in the fourth and then tied the Cobber career mark with two strikeouts in the sixth. The record was set against the very first batter of the sixth inning. She fanned the leadoff batter to get to 441 and become the new CC strikeout queen.

MEGAN GAVIN STRIKEOUTS: 
 

UP NEXT: Concordia will return home to face St. Thomas on Saturday, Apr. 24 at 1 p.m. The Tommies are 19-5 on the year and 12-2 in the MIAC.

RECAP SPONSOR: Today's recap sponsor is RDO Equipment. Cobber athletics would like to thank RDO for their long-time support of Concordia student/athletes.