(April 23, 2008 - Ann Arbor, Mich.) -- The Concordia University softball team led in both games of their doubleheader Wednesday against the University of Michigan Dearborn. After falling in game one the Cardinal dropped a wild extra inning game to drop both games of the twinbill.
Wednesday's doubleheader got off to a good start for the Cardinals (2-26, 1-19 WHAC) as they scored twice in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The hottest Cardinal of late has been sophomore Melissa Garcia (Milan, MI) and she continued her torrid hitting with an RBI single in the first. Freshman Lauren Harris (Ypsilanti, MI) also knocked in a run to stake Concordia to a two run advantage.
The Cards would hold the lead until the top of the fifth inning when Dearborn (12-15, 10-10 WHAC) put together a big inning that turned out to be the difference in the game. The Wolves had five runs on five hits but the rally was also extended by two Cardinal errors. It was a very tough day for the Cardinal defense as they committed ten errors during the doubleheader.
Concordia would not score again in game one and they dropped the contest by a final score of 5-2. Game two would prove to be one of the wildest games played at the Concordia softball field this season. The two teams would combine for 21 runs, 24 hits and 9 errors. 17 runners were left on base in the extra inning affair that featured four lead changes.
The Concordia defense was again shaky in the top of the first of game two and Dearborn scored an unearned run. The 1-0 lead did not last long as the Cardinals stormed back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first. With two outs Concordia had loaded the bases. After fouling off more than five pitches the hottest Cardinal hitter came through again when Melissa Garcia cracked a bases clearing double to the left center field wall.
The 3-1 lead would not last long for Concordia as Dearborn put four runs on the board in the top of the second to take a 5-3 lead. Concordia committed two more errors to go along with four hits by the Wolves. The next scoring of the game came when Amy Claudy (Sr. Roscoe, IL) came through a two out single to bring the Cards within one at 5-4. Claudy led the Cards in game two with 3 hits.
After a scorelss fifth Dearborn plated two runs in the top of sixth to lead 7-4. The stage was now set for one of Concordia's strongest rallies of the season. Lauren Harris and Jenny Johnson (So. Milan, MI) led off the sixth with singles. Following a bases loaded fielder's choice Claudy came through again with an RBI single; a throwing error allowed another run to score and Claudy advanced to second. Claudy would later score on a wild pitch to tie the contest at 7. Another Cardinal senior came through as Terra Russell (Garden City, MI) doubled to score Ali Nowacki (So. Temperance, MI) and the Cardinals led 8-7 and were an inning away from their third win of the campaign.
Freshman pitcher Laura Brabaw (Paris, MI) worked the Cards to within one out of the victory but Danielle May singled back up the middle with a runner on second and the game was tied ay 8. Losing the lead seemed to take much of the wind out of the sails of the Cardinals.
Concordia did not score in the bottom of the seventh and the game went into extra innings. The top of the eighth could not have gone much worse for the Cardinals as Dearborn scored five runs behind the strength of four hits. Once again, two Concordia errors aided the rally. The Cards found themselves down 13-8 and despite putting two runners on in the bottom of the eighth could not push across a run and fell in game two. Concordia's 14 hit performance was one of their best in 2008 but the seven errors somewhat negated the offensive output. Concordia showed plenty of heart to comeback and they have certainly shown resiliency throughout the season.
Claudy led the Concordia offense with three hits and Garcia had a big strike with the 3 run double. Russell, Harris and Kolbe Valenzuela (Whittier, CA) also had multiple hits in game two. Following the gut wrenching defeat Concordia will have two days off before completing their season this weekend. The Cards will travel to Grand Rapids to take on Aquinas College on Saturday April 26 and will host Madonna University on Sunday April 27. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 1 PM.