TURLOCK — The Stanislaus State softball team earned a historic victory on Friday, dominating the No. 1 team in the nation – Concordia University – 6-1, as they kicked off their own 19th Annual Tournament of Champions with a 1-1 day at Warrior Field.
vs. #1 CONCORDIA
Concordia (36-2) entered the tournament with a perfect 36-0 record and a unanimous No. 1 ranking from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Unfazed, the Warriors (9-18) scored five runs in the first two innings to take an early 5-1 advantage. A two-run blunder by the Eagles in the bottom of the first gave Stan State a 2-1 lead after CUI had gone ahead 1-0 in the top half. A passed ball with the bases loaded, followed by a throwing error on the same play allowed two runs to score.
In the second,
Sheridan Gulley led off the inning with her second triple of the day, then
Katie Thornsberry singled her home with a two-out RBI knock.
Karli DalBianco tacked on two more runs to make it 5-1 with another two-out hit, this time a double that scored Thornsberry and
Sidney Crippen-Lay.
Delaney Pamplin (6-6) pitched a complete game in the victory, striking out two and not walking anyone while only allowing one run.
vs. AZUSA PACIFIC
Stan State started its day with a competitive game against another strong program in Azusa Pacific. The Cougars came away with the tournament-opening victory in the morning by a score of 12-7.
APU led 8-1 through three innings, but that didn't stop the Warriors from battling back. A run in the fourth followed by a big five-run rally in the sixth made it a one-run game at 8-7. But two Stan State errors in the top of the seventh let Azusa Pacific create some more space with four unearned runs, giving them a 12-7 lead.
Gulley had five RBIs in the game with her first of two triples on Friday. She cleared the bases with a three-run triple in the sixth after the Warriors had loaded the bases with no outs to start their five-run rally. Four Warriors had multi-hit games.
Melissa Spencer went 2 for 4 and scored three runs.
