Friday, May 21, 2021

IRVINE, Calif. – Central Washington simply did not have an answer for Rylie Rohr.

The Concordia Irvine shortstop had a pair of home runs and five RBI and went 3 for 4 as the No. 1 seeded Eagles eliminated the No. 6 seeded Wildcats, 9-2, from the NCAA Division II Softball West Regional Friday at Eagles Field.

Rohr put the Eagles on the board in the top of the second, launching a two-run homer over the left-field wall. She then punctuated a four-run seventh inning with a three-run shot to left-center field that closed the door on the Wildcats’ chances.

While Rohr roared on offense, Eagles’ pitching limited the Wildcats’ effectiveness. After starter Kelsea Sweeney allowed two runs in the third that allowed CWU to tie the game, reliever Cortney Koelmans proceeded to retire the first eight batters she faced and did not allow a hit in 4.1 innings of work while striking out seven in the win.

The loss ends a great comeback for Central Washington, which was forced to withdraw from the GNAC Championships two weeks ago due to health and safety protocols. Despite being off for almost three weeks, the Wildcats dropped a close 2-1 decision to Northwest Nazarene on Wednesday before eliminating Western Washington, 9-5, later that day. Central finishes the season with an 18-16 record.

After Rohr opened scoring with her homer in the second, Central Washington came back to tie it up in the bottom of the third. Sophomores Allie Thiessen and Harlee Carpenter had back-to-back one-out singles and senior Theresa Moyle followed with a double that scored Thiessen. Senior Maddy Zerr then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Carpenter to tie the game.

Concordia took the lead back for good in the fourth when Thorpe hit a bases-loaded infield single to score Hughes. The Eagles scored two more in the sixth on an error and a ground out. After Rohr hit her three-run homer in the seventh, Lauren Lopez got aboard with a single and scored on an error.

Junior Samantha Stanfield took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in four innings to finish at 6-6 for the season. Carpenter led CWU offensively, going 2 for 3.