Key Hits Are Missing In Home Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/24/22)---Concordia wasn't able to come up with the key hit at the right time and dropped a pair of games against Wis.-Superior in the unexpected home opener.

The Cobbers hit .167 (3-for-18) with runners in scoring position and .176 (3-for-17) with two outs in an innings. The two hitting categories led to a 4-1 loss in the opener against the Yellowjackets and then a 3-2 defeat in Game 2.

The two losses push Concordia's season record under the .500 level for the first time this season. CC is now 6-8 in 2022. Superior wins for the second straight game and is now 11-5 on the year.

Superior only had two more hits in the two games, but was able to post a .240 average with runners in scoring position, came away with four of their seven RBI with two outs in the inning and held a 5-1 advantage in extra-base hits in the two games.

Game 1---Concordia 1, UW-Superior 4
Concordia fell behind in the first game in the very first inning when the Yellowjackets scored an unearned run with two outs. Superior then added two more runs in the second to take a 3-0 lead. The big hit was a 2-out double that scored two.

The Cobbers got their only run of the opener in the third frame when Ellie Tofteland came up with one of the only 2-0ut hits on the day. She singled up the middle to bring home Kenzie Leither who ripped a double over the center fielder's head with one out in the inning. Leither's double would be the only extra-base hit on the day for CC.

The turning point of the opener came in the fifth inning when the Cobbers loaded the bases with no one out and couldn't come up with a run. Emma Redlin led off the inning with a single, then Landry Maragos reached on an error and Leither followed with a walk. The danger would end there for CC as they posted a pop out and a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.

Superior came through with a solo homer in the top of the sixth to finish off the 4-1 score line.

CC was outhit 7-4 in Game 1. Leither, Kate Wensloff, Ellie Tofteland and Redlin had the base knocks for the Cobbers.

Senior Megan Gavin went the distance in the circle for the Cobbers. She struck out seven and allowed three earned runs.

Game 2---Concordia 3, UW-Superior 2
Concordia outhit the Yellowjackets 9-8 in the finale. Neither team could come up with more than one run in an inning. The Cobbers posted single-run frames in third and fifth, while Superior scored once in the third fifth and sixth innings.

Wensloff had the first RBI for CC when she plated Maragos in the third.

Concordia tied the game for the second time in the bottom of the fifth when Emma Bowman's sacrifice line drive to center field scored Leither from third after Leither led off the inning with a single down the left field line.

Leither, Wensloff and Tofteland all had two hits in Game 2. Leither was 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot and went 3-for-5 on the day. Wensloff matched the 3-for-5 performance by Leither and continues to lead CC in hitting with a .429 average.

Concordia split the pitching duties in the second game. Vanessa Ramos pitched the first 5.0 innings and only allowed one earned run. She struck out two and gave up five hits. Karissa Finnigan finished the last 2.0 innings and conceded one run on three hits.

UP NEXT: The Cobbers will go on the road for their final non-conference games before the start of the MIAC season. Concordia will play a doubleheader at Minn.-Morris on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.