A Sweet Season-Ending Sweep

MOORHEAD, Minn. (5/01/18)---It was only fitting that one of the best pitchers in the history of the Cobber program finished her career with a complete-game shutout.

Abby Haraldson capped her career in maroon and gold by allowing just three hits and earning a complete-game shutout in Concordia's 8-0 win to complete a sweep over Minn.-Morris in the final two games of the 2018 season. The Cobbers used a 6-run third inning to beat the Cougars 8-7 in the opener.

Concordia finishes the year by winning four of its last six games. CC completed the season with an 8-32 overall record. Minn.-Morris, who just missed the playoffs in the UMAC, ends their year with a 11-29 mark.

Haraldson had a small road bump out of the gate in her final career start. She allowed a pair of hits in the opening frame but was able to work out of a first-and-second jam by getting a line drive to second base to end the inning.

Haraldson would then retire the next six batterS she faced before giving up a walk. She then set down the next five she faced until giving up a two-out single in the fifth. Haraldson ended her collegiate career by getting a Cougar batter to bunt into a ground out that was cleanly fielded by first baseman Sydney Roberts.  

Haraldson finished the game with four strikeout s and only walked one.

Roberts had the biggest offensive production for the Cobbers in Game 2. She went 2-for-2 and launched a shot down the left field line in the fourth which hit the top of the fence and bounced over for a home run. Roberts also had a 3-run double in Concordia's 5-run first inning.

Freshman Megan Gavin was the only other CC player who had multiple hits in the nightcap. She went 2-for-2 and drove in a run.

Gavin recorded the win in the circle in Game 1. She went the full 7.0 innings and struck out four. She was helped by an offensive attack that pounded out 11 hits – the most in a single game since Mar. 21 when they had 12 vs. Bethany Lutheran.

Senior Kayla Nack finished off her career by going 3-for-4 in the opener. Her three hits was a season high.

Riley Bergstrom, Brooke Ankerfelt and Riley Irman all had two hits for CC. Bergstrom drove in the winning run in the sixth frame when she came up with a 1-out single which scored Irman from second after Irman singled and stole second.

441 AND OUT: Abby Haraldson ended her collegiate career with 441 strikeouts. That bettered the old school record by 70 K's. Haraldson also recorded 28 wins, had a 3.95 ERA and pitched in 475.1 innings.                    

A NACK FOR HITTING: Senior Kayla Nack led Concordia in hitting in .218. She finished the year with a .282 average which is the highest single-season mark of her career. Nack also led the team in games played, at-bats, hits and doubles.

HOME RUN AND STOLEN BASE RACE WINNERS OR THE FINE FRESHMEN:  Both Megan Gavin and Sydney Roberts went "yard" on Tuesday meaning that Gavin finished the year with a one homer lead over Roberts who led the team in long balls each of her first two seasons. Gavin finished with three homers on the year and had at least one hit in six of her last eight games of the year. Fellow freshman Riley Bergstrom won the stolen base crown for CC. She stole a pair of bases in Game 1 and finished the year with eight swipes. Like, Gavin, Bergstrom also started to find her swing in the final games of the year. She also had at least one hit in six of the final eight games of the year.

CONCORDIA vs. MINN.-MORRIS HIGHLIGHTS: