Softball Ends Trip 2-5 after Losses to Biola

March 11, 2011 - The Concordia Cougars came back from two days off to play Biola University in the final two games of their seven-game trip to Southern California. The finish was not what the Cougars hoped it would be as their defense let them down during the 8-0 and 8-2 losses.

Biola scored a run in the first off Concordia starter Sami DeFord (South Bend, IN/Marian) before tacking on five in the second. Four errors in the frame led to all of the runs being unearned.

The Cougars were unable to come back, managing just hits by Olivia Hires (Denver, CO/Bear Creek) and Michelle Ciric (DesPlaines, IL/Elk Grove) over the first six innings. The Eagles then put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with two runs, Lauren Gandy's infield single driving in the eighth run and ending the game.

In game two, the Cougars grabbed a quick 2-0 lead. Hires walked and was replaced by Taylor Golden (Oak Park, IL/Trinity) at first base on a fielder's choice.  Megan White (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) walked and Cassie Slechta (Berwyn, IL/Walther Lutheran) singled to load the bases. Shaylynn Weststyne then issued walks to Corinne Kuhn (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South) and DeFord to force in the runs.

The Eagles tied the score in the first with two unearned runs off Cougars' game two starter Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek). Biola added single runs in the third and fifth, the latter on a homer by Lyndsie Roberts, and broke the game open with four in the sixth.

The Cougars (2-5) will return home and open the local part of the schedule with a pair at Wheaton College on Tuesday.