PORTLAND, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University softball team opened up the Cascade Collegiate Conference schedule on Friday with a pair of losses to Concordia University, 6-1 and 9-0. The Beacons ran into a hot pitcher and were unable to produce.

Head Coach Julie Strand said, “We haven't been taking quality at-bats and we just need to be scoring more than one run over two games. Concordia is a good hitting team and I give them a lot of credit, but we have to start limited the number of runners we are leaving on base. We aren't stringing hits together, but we have the potential. We just need to put everything together as a unit moving forward.”

Danielle Orvella went the distance in the first game for Concordia, allowing NCU to scatter six hits while securing five strikeouts in seven innings of work.

The Cavaliers got on the board early, putting up four runs in the first inning. They added one more in the second inning and held a 5-0 lead going into the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth, the Beacons were able to get on the board and avoid the shutout. Laynee Bevans (pictured) punched a one-out single up the middle and after stealing second base, was brought home by a Randi Kostner double.

CU went on to add one more run in the bottom of the fifth to secure the 6-1 final score. Bevans finished the game with two hits for NCU. After a rough first inning for starting pitcher Sarah Lawhorn (2-3), Jordan Bennett came in and settled things down, allowing just one unearned run on one hit over 4.2 innings. “We came out flat footed in the first inning and gave up some runs with our defense,” said Strand, “but I'm proud of how we were able to calm down in that game.”

Orvella took to the circle once again for the Cavaliers in game two, this time throwing a two-hit complete game shutout as CU claimed the five-inning 9-0 run-rule victory. Gabby Stover and Devon Murphy picked up singles for the Beacons.

Bennett (0-5) took the loss in the circle, despite allowing just one earned run in four innings of work. The fifth inning was rough on the NCU bullpen as Concordia scored seven runs without registering an out to claim the win.

NCU returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Kirkland, Washington to take on first-year program Northwest University for the first time ever. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am.