Halma tallied a team-high 4 hits on the day and then shut down one of the conference’s top offensive machines with a dazzling 4-hit shutout as the Cougars split with Concordia, dropping the first game, 4-0, before taking the second contest by a score of 3-0.
A control pitcher who relies more on movement than velocity, Halma kept Concordia off balance throughout the second game, allowing just 4 base runners, none that got past second base, while leaning on the defense behind her to make plays. She struck out just 1 Eagle but induced 13 ground outs turned by a Cougar defense that for only the second GSAC game this season did not commit an error.
Senior third baseman Natalie Mickelson offered Halma all the offense needed when she cranked her team-leading fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning, a 1-out solo shot over the centerfield fence that gave Azusa Pacific a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars doubled their lead in the sixth inning when catcher Bekah Weisser lifted a 2-out single to left to score pinch runner Bailey Blazek.
Halma aided her own cause in the top of the seventh with a 2-out single to right that scored Heather Gilbertson and put the Cougars up 3-0.
The Eagles were not able to take advantage of a lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh as Halma retired the next 3 batters to secure the shutout over a team that had scored 18 runs in the 3 previous meetings with the Cougars.
With the victory, Halma improves to 10-6 on the season.
In the first game, Concordia took advantage of a momentary lapse of control by Cougar ace Camille Hundley, who walked the base loaded in the second inning and then allowed 3 straight 2-out singles that resulted in a 4-0 Concordia lead.
It was all Eagle pitcher Rachel Reekstin needed as she danced around 7 Cougar hits and stranded 9 Cougars on base, including 5 in scoring position, to notch her second shut outover Azusa Pacific this season.
Azusa Pacific threatened in the top of the seventh by loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk, but Reekstin preserved the shutout by getting the left-handed Halma to fly out to leftfield to end the game.
Hundley, who struck out 4, allowed just 4 hits and walked 4, but 3 hits and 3 walks came in that fateful second inning. With the loss she falls to 10-7 on the campaign.
Halma, who for the first time in her collegiate career played shortstop in the second game, went 4-for-8 on the day with an RBI. Jen Whitten was 3-for-6. Weisser and Gilbertson finished the day 2-for-5. Weisser has now hit safely in 5 straight games and in 10 of her past 12 after going 4-for-48 (.089) to open the season.
With the split, Azusa Pacific is now 21-13 on the season, 7-7 in the GSAC, while Concordia moves to 30-12 overall, 9-5 in the GSAC.
