Nationally-Ranked Concordia Irvine Sweeps Doubleheader from Bearcats

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

IRVINE, CALIF. -- Concordia University Irvine (Calif.), which won the 2013 NAIA National Championship and is ranked #8 in the NAIA this season, defeated Willamette University from NCAA Division III, 15-1 and 8-4, on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Eagles Field. The first game ended on the run rule in five innings.

Concordia remained undefeated at 10-0 on the season. Willamette, playing its first doubleheader of the year, fell to 0-2.

The Eagles scored twice in the first inning of the opening game and added two more runs in the second inning. Ryann Ferguson started the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to center field. Alyssa Yglesias followed with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Charlotte Foster. Hannah Howell belted a two-run homer in the second.

Six runs by Concordia in the third stanza extended the lead to 10-0. Six hits and two errors contributed to the Eagles' attack during the inning. All six runs were unearned. Ferguson drove in the final three runs with her second homer of the game.

Willamette got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) batted first and was hit by a pitch. After Winslow stole second base, Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) singled up the middle to drive Winslow across the plate. Pender advanced to second on the throw home.

Amanda Absher (Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) reached base on a fielder's choice, with Pender out at third on the play. Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) was hit by a pitch and Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) walked, but the Bearcats left the bases loaded following a strikeout and a line out.

Concordia plated five runs in the fourth inning on four singles, a walk and two hit batters. The Eagles secured the run-rule victory by holding the Bearcats scoreless in the top of the fifth.

Ferguson was 3 of 4 for Concordia Irvine with three runs and five RBIs. Yglesias finished 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Foster and Jasmin Dresser each registered two hits. Starting pitcher Brittani McGue tossed four innings, allowed just one run and three hits, and struck out seven batters to improve to 4-0.

Pender went 2 for 2 at the plate with a double and an RBI for Willamette. Molly Lathrop (So., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) was 1 for 1.

Victoria Bradshaw (Jr., P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) took the loss for Willamette. She pitched three innings and achieved three strikeouts with one walk. Only four of 10 runs scored against Bradshaw were earned.

Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game.

With one out, Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) beat out an infield single to shortstop. Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) doubled to left center, allowing Ramirez to score.

Shields reached third on a groundout by Pender and scored when Elaine Norcia (Fr., 1B, Santa Ynez, CA/Santa Ynez Valley HS) reached base on an error at shortstop. Concordia pitcher Stevie Goldstein forced another groundout to end the threat.

The Eagles surged in front with three runs in the bottom of the first. Ferguson singled to start the inning and later scored on a single by Foster. A bit later, Foster scored when Dresser hit into a fielder's choice. The third run was scored by Amy Eilefson.

Concordia added a run with one out in third inning on a solo homer by Eilefson for a 4-2 advantage. In the fourth inning, the Eagles used four hits an on error to tack on three runs for a 7-2 lead. Ferguson hit an RBI single and Foster smacked an RBI double during the inning.

WU plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to pull within 7-4. With one out Pender walked, stole second and wend to third on a wild pitch. She later scored on another wild pitch. Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS), who pinch-ran during the inning, stole home on a double steal later in the inning for the second run.

Foster hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to drive in Yglesias with the final run of the day. Foster was 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI during the game. Foster went 3 for 4, scored a run and had three RBIs. Eilefson finished 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and an RBI.

Six Bearcats recorded one hit in the second game. Ramirez, Shields, Pender and King all scored one run. Pitchers Hayley Glantz (Sr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) and Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) each pitched three innings. Glantz fell to 0-1 with the loss. Smith allowed two runs -- one earned -- and struck out two batters.

Willamette will continue is season-opening trip to California with a doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer on Friday, Feb. 20. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PST).