Cobbers Finish Florida With A Split

CLERMONT, Fla. (3/07/24)---Concordia finished off its annual spring training trip to Florida by splitting a pair of games on Thursday in Clermont.

The Cobbers got revenge against Neumann in the opener. After falling in a 1-run decision against Neumann earlier in the week, Concordia returned the favor by claiming a 2-1 win on Thursday. CC finished off their 10 games in Florida by losing 11-0 to Illinois Benedictine.

Concordia heads home after going 2-8 in Florida. The Cobbers are 5-11 in all games this season.

Game 1: Concordia 2, Neumann 1
Lauren Staples was the story of the game for the Cobbers in the opener against Neumann. She went the distance in the circle and only allowed one run on six hits and struck out three. Staples gave up a single extra-base hit and retired seven of the last batters she faced. Staples found success in getting the first out of the inning. She held Neumann to a 1-for-7 hitting mark in the leadoff spot of innings.

Staples picked up her first win of the year and second d career victory.

The Cobbers never trailed in the game against the Knights. They took a 1-0 lead in the second inning and doubled the lead in the fifth before Neumann plated its only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth.

First-year catcher Morgan Linstad came home with the first run for Concordia. She led off the second with a solid single to center field. She advanced to second on a single by Gabby Brown and then both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt from Emma Bowman. Danielle Lyon got CC on the board when she hit a fly ball to right field that scored Linstad from third base.

The second run came when, once again, Concordia was able to get its leadoff hitter on base. First-year infielder Jillian Martinez got on base with a walk. She would take second after a sacrifice bunt and then scored the game-winning run when Kailee Falconer singled to left field.

The Knights held a slim 6-5 edge in hits in the game. Falconer continued her hot hitting streak in Florida as she went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Linstad and Martinez had the other base hits for CC.

Game 2: Concordia 0, Illinois Benedictine 11 (5 innings)
The Cobbers ran out of gas in the Florida Finale. Illinois Benedictine scored four runs in the top of the first and added a 5-run third inning to pull away from Concordia.

The best chances to score for the Cobbers came in the second and fifth frames. Reese Hauck came through with a 2-out single and went to third base when Mallory Leitner reached on an error. Unfortunately, they were stranded at first and third on a pop up to the catcher.

Karissa Finnigan led off the fifth with a single and went to second when Aubrey Bjella was hit by a pitch. The two runners would advance a base on a ground out, but were stranded after a strikeout to end the game.

The Cobbers had three hits in the finale. Hauck, Finnigan and Bowman recorded the three base hits.

Kayley Bosc, Leitner and Finnigan shared the pitching duties with Finnigan having the most success. She pitched the final 2.2 innings and didn't allow an earned run.

FLORIDA FACTS
- Concordia hit .220 and had an ERA of 3.85 in its 10 games in Florida.
- Kailee Falconer led the Cobbers in hitting. She posted an average of .455 in a team-high 33 at-bats. Falconer also led the team in on-base percentage (.471), slugging percentage (.667) and RBI (6). She posted five of the team's nine extra-base hits in Florida with three doubles and two triples.
- Gabby Brown had a .375 average in Florida and had at least one hit in four of the five games she played in.
- Morgan Linstad led the team in walks (4) and Rosie Unglaub had a team-high five stolen bases.
- Lauren Staples led the pitching staff with a 1.66 ERA in 12.67 innings pitches. She also limited opposing hitters to a .259 average.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have an extended break before opening MIAC play on April 7 when they face Gustavus in St. Peter.