4-Run Innings Foil Conference Opener In Winona

WINONA, Minn. (4/03/22)---A pair of 4-run innings proved to be the difference in Concordia's conference opener at St. Mary's. The Cobbers gave up four runs in the third inning of Game 1 and lost 6-2, and then conceded a second 4-spot in the second inning of Game 2 and fell 9-5.

The two losses drop Concordia's overall record to 6-10 on the season. The Cardinals win for the eighth time in the last nine outings and are now 10-5 in all game and 3-1 in MIAC play.

The opener started with the teams trading 2-run innings in the bottom of the first and top of the second. The Cobbers got their two runs when Ellie Tofteland walked to start the second and then Emma Redlin launched her first collegiate home run over the left-field fence.

The 2-2 tie game would last until the bottom of the third when St. Mary's plated four runs on two hits. SMU scored three of the four runs with two outs in the inning.

The Cobbers were outhit 6-4 in the opener. Redlin led the offense by going 2-for-4 with the two RBI. Molly Wilde and Danielle Lyon had the other base knocks for CC.

Senior Megan Gavin went the distance in the circle. She pitched 6.0 innings and struck out 12 batters. Gavin allowed five earned runs on six hits. She only gave up two hits in the final three innings of play, and didn't allow a runner to get past second base during that time.

The second game had a similar feel as the teams traded big-run innings before the Cardinals scored multiple runs to finish the game. SMU posted a 4-spot in the bottom of the second, and CC countered with a 4-run top of the third. The Cardinals won the game with a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead, and then tacked on three insurance runs in the sixth to finish the score line at 9-5.

Kenzie Leither scored Concordia's first run in the opening inning when she posted a leadoff double to right. She then came home on a throwing error in the very next at-bat.

The Cobber 4-run third was keyed by a 1-out double from Caitlin Culleton and RBI singles from Kate Wensloff and Vanessa Ramos.

St. Mary's held a 13-6 advantage in Game 2. Concordia had six different players with one hit. Besides Leither, Culleton, Wensloff and Ramos – Redlin and Gavin also posted base hits for CC.

Ramos and Karissa Finnigan shared the pitching duties in the finale. Ramos went the first 5.0 frames and gave up four earned runs while striking out a pair. Finnigan went 1.0 innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits.

RIGHT ON REDLIN: Redlin had hits in both games to extend her hitting streak to four games. Redlin also had a 5-game hit streak earlier in the year, and has hit safely in 11 of the 14 games she has played in 2022. Redlin is currently hitting .342 which is third best on the Cobbers.

STRAIGHT NINE: For the first time this season, head coach Chad Slyter used a straight 9-player lineup with no designated player. Gavin picked up her first at-bats of the season and went 1-for-6 on the day. Last year she had 60 at-bats and hit .350.

SUCCESS UNDER SIX: Concordia's magic number on defense this year is six. The Cobbers are now 6-5 when they hold their opponent under six runs. CC is 0-5 when the opposition scores six or more runs.

UP NEXT: Concordia is scheduled to start a 6-game homestand when they host St. Scholastica on Thursday, Apr. 7 at 4 p.m.