Game 2 Offensive Outburst Leads To Split

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/27/21)---Concordia dropped the pitcher's duel in the first game but then responded with a 9-run, 11-hit outburst to win Game 2 and come away with a split against Carleton.

The Cobbers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and 2-for-12 (.167) with runners on base and lost 2-1 in Game 1. Concordia broke that trend in the nightcap by hitting .389 (7-for-18) with runners on base and .308 (4-for-13) with runners in scoring position in posting a 9-1 win.

Carleton scored first in the opener when they scored a run on one hit in the top of the first. The Cobbers would counter with a single run in the second when Val Kolstad blaster her fourth homer of the year.

Concordia would then put runners on base in each of the final five innings of play. The also had a runner on at least second base in four of the final five frames but couldn't come through with the key hit and were held off the board.

The Knights notched the winning tally in the fourth inning on an unearned run.

Senior Megan Gavin went the distance in the circle and struck out 14 batters. She only allowed two hits and a single earned run.

The second game was a 180-degree turn for the Cobber offense. They scored multiple runs in three innings and hit almost .400 with runners on base.

Gavin started the game as the designated player and drove in the team's first run with a double. Taylor Erholtz gave CC a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first when her sacrifice fly scored Kenzie Leither.

The Cobbers broke the game open in the third when Amy Quast's single to right center scored Gavin and then Ellie Tofteland came through with her first collegiate home run. She clouted a 3-run shot that sailed over the right-center field fence to give CC a 6-1 lead.

Concordia would end the game early in the fifth inning. Leading 7-1 heading into the frame, the Cobbers used four walks to score two runs and finish the game via the 8-run rule.

CC had 11 hits in the game and were led by Tofteland, Quast and Hannah Wilke who all head two hits. Quast and Tofteland were 2-for-3 while Wilke went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Amber Taylor started the game in the circle for the Cobbers and went the first 2.1 innings to pick up her team-leading eighth win of the year. Gavin finished off the final 2.2 innings, didn't allow a hit and struck out three to record her first save of the year.

K KOUNTER: Gavin's 17 strikeouts on Tuesday brings her season total to 187 which leads the MIAC by a single K. Her total is also good for tops in all of NCAA Division III. Gavin leads the national strikeout race by a single K over Julie Graf of St. Olaf and by eight over Nikki Camarati of Baldwin Wallace. Gavin now has 464 career strikeouts              
   
UP NEXT: Concordia will host its final home doubleheader of the season on Saturday, May 1 when they battle St. Mary's in a key MIAC match-up with playoff implications on the line.

RECAP SPONSOR: Today's recap sponsor is Travelodge. Cobber athletics would like to thank Travelodge for their continued support of Concordia student/athletes.