Leitner Provides The Sunshine in Rainy Day Split

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/6/24)---The Florida weather was unusually rainy, but Cobber sophomore pitcher Mallory Leitner was able to provide the sunshine as Concordia split their games with Penn St. Berks and Carlow (Pa.).

The Cobbers were supposed to play Carlow first, but that game was pushed back due to weather conditions. CC opened the day against Penn St. Berks and Leitner pitched a gem as she struck out seven in a complete-game shutout.

Concordia couldn't come up with a key hit in the second game against Carlow and lost 2-1 – their third straight 1-run loss.

Concordia 5, Penn St. Berks 0
The Cobbers got all the runs they would need in the opener in the fourth inning when Rosie Unglaub's ground out brought home Reese Hauck who posted a 1-out single.

Leitner took care of the game from there. She didn't allow an extra-base hit and retired eight of the final batters she faced. It's the first shutout of Leitner's college career and her seven strikeouts are a career high.

The Cobber offense gave Leitner some breathing room in the fourth inning when they plated four runs on three hits. The big base knock of the frame came courtesy of Kailee Falconer, who hammered a double that scored Hauck and Leitner.

Concordia had five hits against the Nittany Lions. Falconer and Hauck both had two hits in Game 1. Falconer was 2-for-3 with the double and two RBI, while Hauck was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. First-year infielder Maddie Marvel had the other base knock for CC. She came through with a run-scoring single in the Cobbers' 4-run fourth inning.

Concordia 1, Carlow 2
Both teams had five hits in the Cobbers' second game of the day. The difference came in hitting with runners in scoring position. CC went 0-for-4 with an RBI opportunity, while Carlow was 2-fo-6. Concordia also went 1-for-7 with runners on base and the Celtics were 3-for-9 in the same situations.

The Cobbers plated their lone run of the game in the first inning. Falconer singled up the middle to lead off the game and then stole second base. She advanced to third base on a ground out from Kyla Abrahamson and scored when the Carlow first baseman tried to throw to third to get Falconer, but her throw sailed wide of the target and Falconer was able to run home on the throwing error.

The Celtics tied the game in the bottom of the third on a 1-out double and a single through the right side of the infield.

The game-winning run came an inning later when they had runners on first and third and scored on the double steal.

The best opportunity for CC to tie the game came in the sixth inning when Abrahamson pounded a 1-out double to right-center field. She was eventually erased on a fielders' choice play to end the inning.

Lexi Burke and Karissa Finnigan shared the pitching duties for Concordia. Burke went the first 2.2 frames, allowed three hits and only one run. Finnigan finished the final 3.1 innings. She didn't allow an earned run and only two hits.         

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: Falconer has been on fire at the plate in Florida. She currently has a 5-game hit streak and has posted six multiple-hit games. Both are team bests. She is also leading the team with a .475 average and has a team-best .725 slugging percentage.          

UP NEXT: Concordia will finish off their spring training trip when they play Neumann and Illinois Benedictine on Thursday, Mar. 7 in Clermont, Fla. The Cobbers lost 3-2 to Neumann on Monday.