Thursday, May 9, 2019

IRVINE, Calif. – A three-run homer from McKinsey Thorpe was all that No. 1 seed Concordia Irvine needed to win the battle of the West Coast Concordias in the NCAA Division II Softball West Regional Thursday, taking a 3-2 win from the No.2 seeded GNAC Concordia at Eagles Field.

Thorpe’s shot down the right-field line with two outs was all the scoring the Eagles would get out of an exceptional performance by Cavaliers’ junior pitcher Sally Bowles, who allowed the three runs on five hits with one walk as she fell to 12-11 on the season. Four of the hits came in the first two innings as she allowed just two base-runners over the final five innings.

The Cavaliers used the long ball to open scoring in the second inning when senior Courtney Somers lifted a home run over the left field wall. Concordia scored again in the top of the third when junior Macy Besuyen led off with a single to center field and later scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Marisa Stockton.

Much like Bowles, however, the Concordia Irvine staff proved solid. Starter Callie Nunes allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts in three innings. Erika Morris earned the win as she allowed just one hit and one walk over the final four innings, striking out three.

Junior Karley Yoshioka led the Cavaliers by going 2 for 3. The Eagles’ five hits were spread out among five different players.

With the loss, Concordia (31-25) will face an elimination game matchup with GNAC foe Western Oregon, which lost 6-3 to San Francisco State earlier on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.