12 K's Lead to Fourth No-Hitter in 2012; Seven Players Chosen NFCA All-Region

Tournament Results

Photo Gallery One - Two

The bats started slow, but Katie Cotta did not, as #1 CU defeated Talladega College 8-0 in five innings in the first day of Pool Play at the 2012 NAIA National Championship in Gulf Shores, AL.  Concordia, now 1-0 in Pool A, plays Bethany (Kan.) on Friday at 10:30 a.m. CDT. Talladega, now 0-1 in Pool A, plays Brenau (Ga.) at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.

Cotta threw her fourth no-hitter of the year, and first perfect game, as she went all five innings, with 12 strikeouts.  She now has 232 K's on the year and is a perfect 20-0.  She faced only 15 batters, striking out 12 of them.  The perfect game is the first one in the national championship since Oregon Tech's Jackie Imhof accomplished the feat on May 20, 2011 against Midland (Neb.).  Alyssa Erickson was two-for-two with a double and triple, and RBI.  Jenna Jorgenson was two-for-three with two RBI.  Katie Carson had two singles, one RBI, and scored twice.  Ashlee Leon had a double and run scored, and the Eagles stole four bases on four attempts.

Tornado pitcher Jordan Ray gave up nine Eagle hits in the loss falling to 2-8.  Cotta dropped her ERA to .97 on the year. 

Cotta set them down with two K's in the first and two more in the second.  Carson led off the first with a single, and moved to second on Chanele Dresser's bunt single.  Jorgenson walked to load the bases with one out.  Simons hit a sac fly to left to score one, but a pop out ended the inning.  Erickson led off the second with a walk and moved to second on a groundout.  She stole third and scored on Carson's single to short with two out to make it 2-0 CU.

Cotta fanned all three with swinging strikeouts in the third, and struck the final two out in the fourth.  Simpson was hit by a pitch with two out in the third, and Erickson followed with a double to center.  Both were stranded on base.  The Eagles left 10 on base on the day.  Carson reached on an error with one out in the fourth.  She stole second and moved to third on a groundout.  She scored on an error by the TC catcher.  Concordia left a runner on second to end the inning.  Cotta struck out all three in the fifth.  Cotta was too much for the Tornadoes, as most batters looked absolutely lost at the plate.

The Concordia bats finally came alive in the fifth inning.  Simpson was hit by a pitch to lead off and Erickson followed with a RBI triple to deep left center.  Emily Craig executed the squeeze play to make it 5-0 CU.  Leon doubled down the left field line and stole third with two out.  Dresser walked and stole second.  Jorgenson singled to left to score both.  Simons followed with a walk-off single down the left field line to make it 8-0 Eagles.

Concordia, now 1-0 in Pool A, plays Bethany (Kan.) on Friday at 10:30 a.m. CDT in day two of Pool Play action.

In other news, Concordia had seven players selected to the 2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region Team.  Check out the full West Region Teams below.  All-Regions  Top-ranked Concordia (Calif.) and No. 4 Central Baptist led all teams this season with seven all-region selections. Central Baptist placed six of its honorees on its respective region's first team, while Concordia have five first-team choices.