AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Softball team, fighting for the final spot for the American Southwest Conference Tournament, defeated University of the Ozarks in a doubleheader on Friday.
In game one,
Shelby Burrus went the distance pitching a complete game, shutout as she only allowed two hits to the Eagles while striking out five. The Tornados scored at least a run in each of the first four innings, which provided enough run support for Burrus.
CTX led 1-0 after the first inning after a leadoff walk by
Emma Martino and an
Olivia Kaase single, putting runners at the corners for
Brittani Whitten. Whitten followed up with a sac fly.
The Tornados would score a run in the second and third innings on a Martino RBI double and a
Haley Dennett sac fly respectively and led 3-0 after three frames.
Burrus, meanwhile struck out the side in the first and cruised after allowing the only two hits of the game in the second. In the fourth, CTX made it 5-0 on an
Angelica Arroyo two-run single, scoring
Kennedy Coffin and Martino.
???????Burrus retired the final eight UO hitters in a row to seal the win, her 12th of the season.
In game two, a five-run fifth propelled the Tornados to their second win of the day.
???????Dennett started in the circle for CTX, allowing an unearned run in the first as the Eagles took the early 1-0 lead.
The Tornados would grab the lead in the second on RBI singles by Coffin and Martino and led 2-1 heading to the third.
In the fifth, CTX would bat around, scoring five runs on seven hits, as five different Tornados had an RBI in the inning and led 7-1.
UO would not go easily though, as they pulled within 7-5 after scoring four runs in the seventh. CTX went to Burrus in relief of Dennett with one out in the inning. She would get the final two outs, earning the save, and giving the Tornados a 7-5 win.
CTX heads into the final regular season game of the year controlling their destiny to advance to the ASC Tournament. They will face the Eagles on Saturday at 12 p.m. as the Tornados will celebrate its three seniors. With a win or a Hardin-Simmons loss, CTX will clinch the final spot for the tournament.
