IRVINE, CA --- Whether with the bases loaded or empty, Holy Names learned an important lesson about sophomore shortstop
Alyssa Erickson in game two of a Sunday doubleheader. The lesson: Don't throw No. 24 anything to hit.
Erickson blasted a grand slam in the first inning, then ripped a carbon-copy solo shot in the third, in a 12-0 rout, giving the NAIA's No. 11-ranked Concordia a 2-0, 12-0 sweep over Holy Names.
In her third plate appearance of game two, Erickson drew a two-out walk that loaded the bases in front of a two-run single by freshman third baseman
Shainna Groom in the fourth inning.
Concordia improves to 7-1, while Holy Names drops to 2-8 on the campaign.
The Eagles took care of game one with a two-run rally in the first inning, scoring two runs to give starting right-hander
Rachel Reekstin the win to improve to 2-0.
Sophomore first baseman
Katie Carson, a returning NAIA All-American, started the rally off with a double, and advanced a base on an infield single by freshman right fielder
Alexis Vernon.
A harmless fly ball from sophomore DP
Jennifer Simons turned into a run-scoring play with one out, when Vernon tagged from first and both she and Carson advanced a base due to a throwing error attempting to gun down Vernon, leaving Vernon on third with one out and one in.
Vernon would later score on a balk, making the final score 2-0.
Reekstin tossed seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five to pick up the win.
Holy Names starter Stephani Fairclough was hit with the loss after going six innings, where she allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks against five strikeouts.
Concordia freshman lefty
Morgan Reiter picked up the win in the nightcap, going five shutout innings where she allowed two hits and no walks. She struck out one batter to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Markie Benevidez-Talbott took the loss for Holy Names after allowing 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and two walks against one strikeout in 3.2 frames.
Both of Erickson's game-two round-trippers were blasted out of left-center field, giving her three round-trippers on the young campaign.
Concordia next takes on Northwest Christian College in the first game of the three-day Southern Oregon Tournament this Thursday (Feb. 25), starting at 4 p.m.