(Tucson, AZ) - The Concordia Cardinals softball team returned to Lincoln Park on Thursday following an off day. The Cardinals took on the #25 Bellevue Bruins as they looked to get back on track. 

CUAA struck first right away in the top of the first when Payton Lewis laced a double to right center field and moved to third on a Kaleigh McClelland sacrifice bunt. Katie Tobias would then come up and shoot a triple to left center field for the 1-0 lead. The Cards kept the extra-base hits coming with a Faith Cramton double, to the same spot, that scored Tobias.

The Bruins were able to get two runners on in the bottom half of the inning, but Cardinals starter Paige Anderson was able to get out of the inning. Anderson was then able to have a quick second with a pair of strikeouts and inducing a ground ball. 

In the third, CUAA was able to tally a run after Tobias walked, Cramton singled, and then Maddy Grueter doubled to left field to make it a 3-0 game. 

The score remained 3-0, despite efforts from both teams putting runners on base, until the seventh inning when the Cards put up another three runs. After a fielder's choice loaded the bases up, Cramton knocked a single to left field, scoring Lewis and Summer Brady with the final run coming on an attempted double steal with Tobias scoring.

Paige Anderson struck out the final three batters to bring her total to 10 strikeouts on the day. She pitched the complete game shutout, allowing eight hits. 

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday, March 7 as they return and play a double header against Valley City State and Park-Gilbert (AZ) at 1 and 3:30 PM EST.