While most GSAC eyes have been on the NAIA's top-ranked California Baptist, No. 13 Concordia has quietly maneuvered itself into an elite position, and today's conference-opening sweep of No. 18 Azusa Pacific trumpeted the arrival of the Eagles.

Concordia downed Azusa Pacific, 6-2 and 4-2, relying on dominating pitching and timely hitting to run its record to 15-0, the best start in program history.

Catcher Tracey Clark crushed 2 home runs, one in each game, to lead Concordia's offensive attack while pitchers Natalie Brown and Kory Briggs threw bullets by Cougar hitters, striking out 15 in 14 innings of work.

In the first game, the Eagles took advantage of a Cougar error to score 3 unearned runs, all with 2 outs. Clark's 2-run bomb to left-center capped the inning. Meanwhile, Azusa Pacific couldn't get to Brown until the sixth inning, when the Cougars parlayed 2 singles, 2 walks and a ground out into a pair of runs but it was too late to overcome Concordia's 6-run advantage.

In the nightcap, Azusa Pacific took a brief 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cassi Sweeney singled home Courtney Cleaves with an unearned run. However, in the bottom of the frame the Eagles plated all the runs they would score for the game, and again Clark was the focal point, crushing a 3-run bomb to highlight the 4-run outburst.

Azusa Pacific managed just 4 hits the rest of the way. Briggs worked 5 innings, striking out 6, before Brown returned to the circle to close out the game.

Jessica Mikesell accounted for 3 of the Cougars' 10 hits on the day, going 3-for-5 in the 2 games. Tami Carter 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

With the sweep, Concordia improves to 15-0 overall, 2-0 in the GSAC. Azusa Pacific falls to 7-6 overall, 0-2 in the GSAC.