One-Run, Late-Inning Heart Breakers

CLERMONT, Fla. (2/26/18)---Concordia lost a pair of one-run, last-inning decisions on the second day of their annual spring break trip to Florida. The Cobbers fell 3-2 to Eastern (Pa.) on a walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning and then lost 5-4 to Alverno (Wis.) in the eighth inning.

The two one-run losses brings the Cobbers' spring record to 1-3.

In both games Concordia was able to rally and come up with a late game-tying run before losing in dramatic fashion.

The Cobbers rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the opener against Eastern (2-1). Concordia tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Elizabeth Asp doubled home Kayla Nack who coaxed a one-out walk.

Concordia then had runners on first and second with one out in the top half of the seventh inning but couldn't get the key hit to bring home the go-ahead run. CC lost the game in the bottom of the frame on a pair of walks and then a single through the right side of the infield.

The second game of the day had even more drama as the Cobbers had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Concordia trailed 4-0 against Alverno but then played three runs on a bases clearing double from the bat of Asp in the fifth inning.

CC would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when Nicole Johannes singled through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded and Nack came home from third. Concordia had three chances to win the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the inning but a pair of strikeouts and a long fly out to left field killed the game-winning rally.       

Alverno (3-3) would then win the game in the eighth inning after the international extra inning rule was put into place. Starting the inning with a runner on second, the Inferno scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded.

The Cobbers had their chance to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. CC was unable to advance the runner past second base and went down 1-2-3 in the inning.

Asp led the Cobber offense for the day. She went 2-for-6 with two doubles and five RBI. Nack was the only other CC player with more than one hit on the day. She went 2-for-5 in the second game and scored a pair of runs in the two games.

Freshman Brynn Sundgaard got the start in the circle in the opener and went the full seven innings. She stumbled in the second inning by allowing a pair of runs but then only gave up one hit until seventh inning. She finished the day by giving up only two earned runs and struck out two batters.

Super senior Abby Haraldson went the entire eight innings against Alverno. She also struck out two and gave up six hits and four earned runs.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will play two more games at the Legends Way athletic complex in Clermont, Fla. on Tuesday. The Cobbers will face Houghton at 10:30 a.m. and then play Johnson State at 1 p.m.