IRVINE, Calif. — In its first NCAA postseason game in six years, Azusa Pacific softball stared down familiar foe Concordia, but it was the Eagles that put their playoff experience on display in an 8-0 win over the Cougars in the opening round of the West Regional.
How It Happened: After an uneventful first inning, Dani Burghardt led off the second with a single, but the Cougars were turned aside by an impressive defensive play by the Eagles' first baseman, resulting in a double play. Concordia got on the scoreboard with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second, three consecutive singles bringing in a pair of runs.
Concordia, who is seeded second and hosting the regional for the fourth consecutive time dating back to 2018, would add on to their lead via another two-out rally in the third. The Eagles had runners at the corners with two out when a passed ball on ball four allowed a third run to score. That was followed by a two-run double down the right field line, making the advantage 5-0 for the home team.
Azusa Pacific would not get a runner on base again until the top of the fifth, when Izzy Rivera reached on an infield single. The Cougar offense was kept almost completely stymied by PacWest Newcomer of the Year Kaitlin Entrup, who has been in the circle in four of the Cougars' five matchups against Concordia this season, going 2-1 with a save. The pitcher allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out four in the win. The Eagles would tack on another run via a passed ball in the sixth before yet another two-out-two run hit ended the game an inning early.
Up Next: The Cougars (35-16) will have to work their way through the losers' bracket to keep their season going. Up next is an elimination game Friday at 1:30 p.m against Chico State. If the Cougars win that game, they will turn around half an hour later and face the loser of the day's early contest between Concordia and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Every game of the regional tournament is being streamed live on the Eagles' YouTube channel.
