Box Score LAS VEGAS (Feb. 26, 2021) – No. 11-ranked Concordia-Irvine (Calif.) took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, then blew the game open with a six-run sixth en route to a 9-4 win over No. 10 Oklahoma Christian on Friday night at Faith Lutheran High School.

In the first of three scheduled games between the NCAA Division II softball powers, OC (7-1) outhit Concordia-Irvine (3-0) by a 9-7 count, but the Eagles left eight runners on base. OC missed its chance to become the first team in program history to start the season with eight straight wins.

OC started quickly in the top of the first, placing runners on second and third bases with no outs, but the Eagles managed only one run, on a single by freshman Whitney Walde that scored Brie Dunckel. California-Irvine senior pitcher Callie Nunes (2-0) escaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a lineout by OC's Brianna Robinson.

Concordia-Irvine scored two runs on only one hit in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of two walks issued by OC starter Kali Crandall (4-1) and a wild pitch to go with a double by McKinsey Thorpe. A solo home run by Sydney Sprinkle put Concordia-Irvine up 3-1 in the third inning.

Katelyn Dunckel doubled to lead off the fifth for OC and scored on another RBI single by Walde. The Eagles had runners on second and third base with one out but didn't score again in the inning.

Concordia-Irvine poured it on in the sixth inning, recording three hits to go along with a key error by OC. Missy Nemeth had the key blow for Concordia-Irvine, a two-run single.

OC added a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a double by Robinson that scored Karrah Dean and Katelyn Dunckel.

Crandall gave up four hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings while striking out five batters. Nunes fanned 10 OC batters in six innings of work.

The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Central time.