CENTRAL BOX SCORE

ALFRED BOX SCORE

Tucson, Ariz. – Erin Duhon drove in the deciding run by hitting into a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Concordia University Texas softball team to a 2-1 win over Central College on Friday, March 15 at Lincoln Park. The Tornados also defeated Alfred by a 5-0 score later in the day to finish the week with a five-game winning streak.

Central College (9-5), which has been ranked as high as ninth nationally and is currently receiving votes in the NFCA National Poll, scored in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Dutch successfully pulled off a triple steal that allowed Abbey Strajack to slide home safely. Kat Moreno, however, recovered quickly by striking out two batters in a row before inducing a lineout to get out of the major jam.

Concordia was able to score the equalizer in the bottom of the fourth. After Christina Martin hit a leadoff single to short, Savannah Valderas came in as a pinch runner and was sacrificed over to second by Duhon. Meghan Ferrell then followed up with an RBI single to right center, forcing the Central coaching staff to make a pitching change.

After the teams combined to leave five runners on base between innings five and seven, the Tornados were finally able to break through in the bottom of the eighth. Duhon reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Brie Martinez to score with only one out.

Kat Moreno went the distance and improved to 6-3 for Concordia by picking up the victory. She gave up seven hits and one run, which was earned, while punching out six opposing batters. Central's Kelsey Stender suffered the loss and dropped to 3-3 on the year despite never surrendering a hit. She struck out four, issued four walks and allowed one run that was earned.

Concordia used two pitchers and a balanced offensive attack to defeat Alfred (4-6) later in the day, which included getting its nine hits from nine different players. Jessica Parish opened things up by hitting a bases-clearing double that gave the Tornados a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Katie Carrizales and Noey Ruiz followed up with RBI hits in the sixth and seventh, respectively, while Zalysa Perez and Sydney Coffey were combining for a shutout in the circle.

Perez picked up the victory after hurling four scoreless innings as the starter for Concordia. She gave up two hits and only issued one walk. Alfred's Alison Wickwire, who went the distance, was tagged with the loss after giving up nine hits and five runs, which were all earned, while striking out three and issuing one walk.

Concordia (12-6) returns to action when it faces Howard Payne on Friday, March 22.
-agate-
Central (9-5)             100     000     00     1     7     0
Concordia                 000     100     01     2     3     1
     Central: Mallory Schulenberg, Kelsey Stender (4) and Caitlin Meyer.
     Concordia: Kat Moreno and Shannon Lanford.

Concordia (12-6)    003     001     1     5     9     0
Alfred (4-6)               000     000     0     0     5     2
     Concordia: Zalysa Perez, Sydney Coffey (5), Erin Duhon and Jordan Piestch (6).
     Alfred: Alison Wickwire and Nora Passuite, Mackenzie Miller (6).