WILMINGTON, Del. – The Concordia College softball team swept their opening Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader on Sunday afternoon as the Clippers took 5-4 and 6-1 victories at Goldey-Beacom College.
In the first game Concordia would have a runner on third base with two outs in the top of the first inning as a wild pitch from the Lightning allowed junior Audrey Gardus (Carbondale, Pa.) to score the first run of the game. In the home half of the first, Goldey-Beacom would score two runs to lead 2-1. The Lighting would add two more runs in the third inning as the Clippers trailed 4-1.
The top of the fourth would be a big inning for Concordia as junior Tori Tansley (Old Forge, Pa.) hit a bases loaded two-RBI single to get the Clippers within a run, 4-3. With the bases loaded again, junior Allison Beltz (Whitehall, Pa.) would advance home on a wild pitch to knot the game at 4-4. Tansley would also score on a wild pitch in the inning to give Concordia the 5-4 advantage as her run would be the eventual game-winning run. Goldey-Beacom was only able to record four hits for the remainder of the game as the Clippers held on for the 5-4 win.
Sophomore Shayla Peterson (Bethlehem, Pa.) earned her third victory of the season, and third straight in as many starts, as she allowed two earned runs on 10 hits while striking out three batters in the complete game for Concordia.
Game two saw the Clippers have two on and two out in the top of the first inning as Beltz hit a two-RBI single through the left-side of the infield to give Concordia an early 2-0 lead. Senior Sarah Ross (Dunmore, Pa.) added the third run to the Clippers' total in the top of the third inning with a solo home run, her second of the season.
The Lightning would score their only run of the game in the home half of the third with a two-out RBI single. After two quick outs in the fifth, Peterson would provide a RBI single to center field as Gardus scored from second base to give Concordia a 4-1 advantage. The Clippers would score lone runs in the sixth and seventh innings, both with two outs, as MacKenna Powell (Milford, Pa.) hit a RBI single in the sixth and Beltz added her third RBI of the game in the seventh to give Concordia the 6-1 lead. Goldey-Beacom attempted a late comeback in their last at-bats, but the Clippers held on for the 6-1 victory.
Ross pitched the complete game for Concordia as she allowed one earned run on seven hits while striking out two batters for her first win of the season. This is the first time the Clippers have began 2-0 in conference play since 2011.
Concordia (4-4, 2-0 CACC) is scheduled to host Felician University for their home opener at Clipper Softball Field on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch of the CACC doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. as fans unable to attend can follow the action by accessing the live stats link under the softball schedule page on ConcordiaClippers.com.