MANKATO, Minn. - Concordia had to play their way into the NSIC Tournament the last weekend of the season but are now headed to the Central Region Super Regional next week after beating #6 Minnesota State 3-1. The coaching trio of Bob Bartel, Paige Dopp and Tom Mauer have their team playing their best ball at the best time of the year and will have to do the same thing next week as they take on #16 Augustana. BOX SCORE | CU PRESS RELEASE | MSU PRESS RELEASE

Ashley Kluever (Mendota Heights, Minn.) allowed just one hit through seven innings pitching around eight walks and striking out five. She got some help from her defense as well as the Golden Bears made almost every play in the field. Concordia had seven hits on the afternoon but made them count as they scored three times in the first three innings and then held on. Both teams left nine runners on in the game as both pitchers were able to dig deep when runners were on.

In the first inning Kluever walked three straight with one out as MSU loaded the bases looking to strike first. Kluever would end up picking up two straight strikeouts to get out of the inning unscathed. Concordia picked up a base runner via a one out walk but could not score.
Minnesota State got on the board in the second inning but it could have been worse. After a leadoff double Kluever picked up another strikeout, but on the pitch the ball got past Missie Feuerbach (Iowa City, Iowa) and allowed the runner on second to move up to third. Another walk followed allowing Amanda Umhoefer to reach base, Umhoefer then stole second to make it second and third with one out. Kluever picked up an out by getting a short fly ball to left and not allowing the runner to score. That run would cross however on a passed ball before a ground out to second ended the inning. The Golden Bears also picked up a leadoff double as M. Feuerbach atoned for the passed ball. Brynn Larsen (Oconto Falls,Wis.) worked a eight pitch walk as the threat continued. Cassie Bertelsen(Oakdale, Minn.) reached on a fielder's choice as Larsen beat out the throw to second and the bases were loaded. Katie Feuerbach(Iowa City, Iowa) came through for once again for Concordia singling through the right side past the diving first baseman. Missie would score but Larsen was out at home on a very close play at home for the second out. With two outs Katie Anderson (Mendota Heights,Minn.) picked up her first hit of the tournament as Concordia took the the lead 2-1 when Bertelsen crossed home plate.
Kluever walked another batter with one out in the third inning but again got out of the jam by getting a fly out to right and a pop up to short. The Golden Bears added a big insurance run in the third inning as back to back to back singles to led off the inning, loading the bases. After a strikeout Bertelsen came through with a sac fly to left and Tjornhom was able to race home. The eight, nine hitters for CU drove in two of three runs in the game.
In the fourth inning Minnesota State had a runner reach on a error by the short stop. A walk followed as MSU put runners on first and second with one out. Another fly out and ground out got Kluever and Concordia out of another jam as MSU left seven runners on base through the first four innings. Concordia threatened in the fourth inning, Anderson singled and Alicia Meiser (Circle Pines, Minn.) drew a walk leading off the inning. Calli Brennan (Mendota Heights, Minn.) advanced the runners with a ground out to second but Concordia would strand two in the inning.
The Mavericks picked up a one out walk as another runner reached base in inning five. A fielder's choice out kept a runner on first before Abby Sonner flew out to foul territory in left ending the inning. Concordia had a runner reach in the fifth inning as well with a one out walk and like MSU failed to score.
For the first time all game Kluever put MSU down in order, doing so in the sixth as CU would take at least a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning. Concordia's half of the sixth was also short as they too went down in order. Kluever got the first two batters out in the seventh as the top of the lineup was up for MSU. Kluever then walked Lindsay Erickson, who was 9-11 in the tournament at the time before retiring her sister Chelsea Erickson on a nice play by Brennan over the bag at third and then a great scoop by K. Feuerbach at first to end the game.

 

Concordia reaches the Super Regional for the first time since 2006 and the first time under Head Coach Bob Bartel. More information on the Super Regional will be released when the details are released.