GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH DENISE LIRA
POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH SENIOR LAUREN VANSICKLE
Round Rock, Texas –
Lauren Vansickle hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning and
Teylor Schiefelbein hurled a shutout in the circle to lift the Concordia University Texas softball team over Southwestern by a 2-0 score in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 24 at Old Settler's Park. The Pirates won the opener, 1-0, to earn the split.
After leaving one runner on base in each of the first four innings of the nightcap, Concordia (4-2) was able to break through with all the scoring it needed in the bottom of the fifth.
Candace Velasquez started off the frame with a single to left before
Melissa Cantu reached on an error by the third baseman, sending pinch runner
Ellen Reid to second.
A bunt single by
Christina Smith kept the inning loaded the bases to put Concordia in a prime position to score on the next play, but Reid got gunned down at home on a fielder's choice with Schiefelbein at the plate. Vansickle, however, sent a laser up the middle that scored Cantu and Smith.
Southwestern threatened in the sixth by placing two runners on base with one out, as Kaylee Kucharski singled and Ashleigh Scott was hit by a pitch. But two big defensive plays got the Tornados out of the inning. Third baseman
Erin Duhon made a diving grab in foul territory, sliding into a fence, and Cantu gunned down Kucharski at home plate all the way from right field. Schiefelbein retired the side in order in the seventh to seal the victory.
Schiefelbein, who was named the American Southwest Conference West Division Preseason Pitcher of the Year, improved to 2-1 on the season by picking up the shutout win for Concordia. She allowed six hits and fanned two while walking only one opposing hitter. Lyndsy Maus suffered the loss and fell to 1-2 by yielding seven hits and two runs, including one earned, while striking out two.
As reigning ASC West Division Pitcher of the Week
Kat Moreno was in the process of hurling a no-hitter through 4.2 frames, Concordia had the first chance to score in the bottom of the third inning of the opener.
Alex Smith blasted one of her three hits in the game to right center before Vansickle reached on an error by the Pirate shortstop. A walk issued to
Jordan Berry loaded the bases and set the table for
Jessica Parish. The sophomore second baseman sent a rocket out to deep left that appeared as if it had a chance to grace the fence for a grand slam, but the wind kept the ball in the park and it was caught on the warning track for the final out.
Southwestern (4-3) was able to score the game's only run in the top of the seventh. Haley Hughes doubled to right and pinch runner Linsay Biggers scored on a fielder's choice three plays later. The Tornados attempted to at least tie the score in the top of the bottom of the inning with Vansickle reaching on a fielder's choice with two outs.
Christina Smith hit a bloop single to left to apparently keep the inning going, but Vansickle accidentally overran the second base bag and was tagged going back for the game's last out.
Lauren Zearfoss, the reigning Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year picked up the shutout victory to up her 2012 record to 3-1. She surrendered five hits and recorded six strikeouts. Moreno suffered the tough-luck loss for the Tornados and dropped to 2-1 after giving up four hits and one run, which was earned, while punching out five hitters and issuing only a pair of walks.
Concordia competes at the ASC First-Pitch Tournament in Farmers Branch on March 2-3. The Tornados will play their first of four games against LeTourneau on Friday morning at 10 a.m.
-agate-
Southwestern 000 000 1 1 4 1
Concordia 000 000 0 0 5 1
Southwestern: Lauren Zearfoss and Abigail O'Connor.
Concordia:
Kat Moreno and
Alex Smith.
Southwestern (4-3) 000 000 0 0 6 2
Concordia (4-2) 000 020 x 2 7 1
Southwestern: Lyndsy Maus and Kaylee Kucharski.
Concordia:
Teylor Schiefelbein and
Kassey Shaw.
