Big-Run Sixth Innings Propel Sweep At Carleton

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (5/02/2022)---Concordia used a pair of big-run, sixth innings to sweep Carleton to start the final six games of the regular season.

The Cobbers scored three times in the sixth in the opener and beat the Knights 5-2. In Game 2, it was a 5-run sixth that propelled CC to a 12-7 victory.

Concordia put up a season-high 17 hits in the finale as they recorded their first conference sweep of the year. CC has now won three straight games and is 10-18 overall and 4-10 in the MIAC. Carleton ends their 2022 season with a 19-18 overall mark and a 7-15 league record.

The Cobbers never trailed in the opener as they put up two runs in the second, leaned on the 15-K performance from senior pitcher Megan Gavin, and then won the game with a 3-spot in the sixth.

CC took the 2-0 lead on four hits in the second. Valerie Kolstad had the only RBI of the inning when she singled home Drew Syverson. Molly Wilde scored the other run of the inning when she came home on a wild pitch after leading off with a single through the left side of the infield.

Concordia would win the game in the sixth when they scored three times on two hits. Emma Redlin came through with the big hit when she recorded a 2-out double to left-center field that scored Ellie Tofteland and Kenzie Leither.

Gavin's only blemishes in Game 1 were a pair of solo homers to the same Carleton hitter. She only allowed three other his in the game, and didn't allow a runner past second for the final three innings. Her 15 strikeouts marked the fourth time this year she has fanned at least 15 in a game.

Concordia outhit Carleton 11-7 in the first game. Redlin, Wilde, Kolstad and Landry Maragos all had 2-hit games as the four combined for eight of the team's 11 hits. Redlin had the only multiple-RBI game.  

The Cobbers trailed 5-1 after two innings, and then 7-4 after four before they rallied to score two in the fifth and five in the sixth to earn the win. CC came through with a single run in the seventh to push the final total to 12-7.

The biggest hit of the day belonged to freshman Danielle Lyon who launched a grand slam to account for four of the five runs in the sixth inning. The long ball was Lyon's first collegiate HR and upped her team-leading RBI total to 11. She finished Game 2 by going 4-for-5 and had 5 RBI. Both hit and RBI totals are a season high for the designated player.

Maragos, Wilde and Kolstad recorded their second multiple-hit games of the day. Maragos was 3-for-5 and finished the day 5-for-9. Wilde was 2-for-5 in Game 2 and 4-for-8 in the DH, while Kolstad 2-for-4 in the Game 2 win and 4-for-7 in the sweep.

Concordia used three pitchers to pick up the win, and the sweep. Vanessa Ramos started the game in the circle. Karissa Finnigan entered the game second and went 4.2 innings to record her second win of the year. Gavin came on in the sixth, after CC had taken an 11-7 lead, and finished off the final 2.0 innings. She didn't allow a hit and recorded all six outs by strikeouts.

KATE AT THE PLATE: Senior shortstop Kate Wensloff had a single hit in each game to up her hit streak to four games. She continues to lead CC in hitting with a .324 average. The Cobbers have 10 wins on the year, and Wensloff has at least one hit in eight of those games.

K QUEEN: Gavin continues to add to her ridiculous strikeout totals. She now has 179 K's in 115.0 innings this year and has 682 career strikeouts. Her season K total is second in the MIAC and tied for 13th in Division III. Her career strikeout total is fourth in the history of the MIAC.                     

UP NEXT: Concordia will stay in the Cities overnight and play at Augsburg on Tuesday, May 3 at 1 p.m. CC will then finish off the regular season on Wednesday, May 4 when they host St. Scholastica at 5 p.m.