Cobbers Can't Find Offensive Rhythm; Fall To #21 Bennies

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/28/23)---Concordia couldn't find its offensive rhythm and dropped a pair of conference games against No.21-ranked St. Benedict on Friday.

In their second straight home doubleheader, the Cobbers lost 9-0 in six innings in the opener and then fell 7-0 in Game 2.

Concordia (5-26, 1-14 MIAC) gave up three runs in the very first inning of the day, and then put up their best scoring opportunity in the two games in the bottom of the first. Kailee Falconer punched a perfectly placed a hit that fell on the foul line down the right-field line. She was able to race around the bases and slide into third base with a 1-out triple. Unfortunately for the Cobbers, Falconer was stranded on third after a foul out and strikeout.

Cobber freshman starting pitcher Mallory Leitner settled into the game after the first inning and didn't conceded another run until the sixth inning. At one point she retired a stretch of 10 of 12 batters.

The other base hit for Concordia in Game 1 came in fifth inning when Emma Bowman beat out an infield single to the shortstop.            

St. Benedict (23-5, 14-4 MIAC) sealed the game in the sixth inning when they scored six runs on five hits. Leitner started to tire in the inning, and was replaced by Vanessa Ramos who picked up the final two outs of the inning.

Concordia gave up a single run to start the second game, and only trailed 1-0 heading into the fourth frame. The Bennies were able to come up with a trio of runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to put the game out of reach.

Like the first game, the Cobbers had two hits for the seven innings. Haleigh Lematta got the first hit of Game 2 which came in the fifth inning. The second base knock came off the bat of Rosie Unglaub who looped a fly ball that fell in front of the center fielder.   

Concordia used three pitchers in the finale. Karissa Finnigan went the first 3.0 innings, freshman Lauren Staples also went 3.0 innings and then Marissa Piasecki closed out the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: Concordia will continue with its stretch of three straight MIAC doubleheaders in three days when they play at Hamline on Saturday, Apr. 29 at 1 p.m.