MOORHEAD, Minn. (5/01/07)-- You knew it wasn't going to be a good day for Concordia. In the pre-game warmup, all-conference shortstop Kelli Niess took a ground ball off her lip and by game time it had swelled up to the size of a small golf ball. That wouldn't be the only bad bounce of the day as Concordia was swept by playoff-bound Gustavus 4-2, 9-1 (5) in Moorhead on Tuesday.

In the end, the Cobbers were unable to contain the Gustie big bats as they were swept at home for the first time all season. The two losses also brings Concordia's losing streak against Gustavus to 15 games. The two wins for the Gusties brings their season total to 30 and helps them post back-to-back 30-win seasons.

The first game turned into a pitching dual between Cobber sophomore Jill Reinert and Gustie senior Joyce DeWitz. Through the first four inings, Reinert held the edge over the all-region hurler as Concordia took a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning. The lone run of the game in the first four innings came when CC catcher Shantelle Nogowki hit a two-out single to the opposite field to score Niess.

The first four innings cruised past with the two pitchers holding the offense to only one run and six hits. Reinert kept the Gustavus hitters off balance and allowed only one hit through the first four innings.

The momentum started to change in the fifth inning when the Gusties tied the game at 1-1. The bounces that had been finding the gloves of the Cobber fielders suddenly started to spin away and land in open spaces. With two outs in the inning and a runner on second, Julie Mahre hit a looping fly into short left field. The ball landed in front of Concordia left fielder Kylene Compton and then spun away from the charging outfielder. The bounce allowed Andrea Brown to score from second and tie the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Concordia had runners on first and second with one out but was unable to find a hole in the Gustie defense for the rest of the inning and came away empty handed.

The Gustavus power offense that was dormant for the first five innings took over in the sixth inning. Rachael Click and Abby Bernstein led off the frame by connecting on back-to-back home runs.  After Bernstein hit the second roundtripper, the momentum swing was complete and Gustavus would never be threatened in the final two innings. Click's home run over the right field fence was her ninth of the season which set a program record for most home runs in a single season. She would hold the mark all by herself for only one inning. Not to be outdone by her teammates, Mahre launched her ninth home run of the year in the top of the seventh.

The Cobbers added a run in the bottom of the inning off of Gustavus reliever Betsie Collins on back-to-back doubles by Reinert and Kelly Gerbig. Unfortunately for CC, Collins would get the next three batters to fly out to the outfield to end the game.

Reinert had another strong performance on the mound for CC. Other than the three long balls, she did not allow an earned run and gave up nine hits.

DeWitz pitched the first 5.0 innings to earn her 18th win of the year. She allowed one run on five hits and struck out seven. Collins picked up her first collegiate save, going the final two innings, allowing one earned run and two hits.

Concordia (12-20/8-12 MIAC) was outhit 9-7 in the opener. Niess went 2-for-4 and scored one of the team's two runs in the game. Reinert was the only other Cobber hitter to collect more than one hit in the game. She went 2-for-3 and scored the other run.

Gustavus (30-6/20-2 MIAC) was led by Mahre, Click and Bernstein. Mahre went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot and Click and Bernstein added two hits each.

The second game was a sharp contrast to the first. Gustavus left little doubt about the outcome, scoring two runs in each of the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. The game was called after the fifth due to the league's eight-run rule. Unlike the first game where GAC unleashed their power game, the second game was all about the nickel and dime. Gustavus 11 hits in the nightcap, only two of which were for extra bases.

Concordia managed only one run on four hits in game 2 and a pair of those came in the fifth inning when they scored their only run of the game. Despite her fat lip, Niess finished off her home career in style by collecting two more hits in the second game. For the day she was 4-for-7 and raised her season average to .425. She also broke her fourth school record of the year. After setting new marks for career hits, runs and stolen bases, Niess swiped three more bases to break the program record for steals in a single season. Niess now has 23 stolen bases on the season.

Reinert started the second game on the mound for the Cobbers but was then relieved by freshman Erin Johnson. Reinert was saddled with the loss, allowing the first three runs of the game. Johnson pitched the final three frames, allowed four earned runs and seven hits. Reinert added to her strikeout total on the season. She recorded five K's on the day and now has 131 for the season. She needs 11 more to break the school record for strikeouts by a pitcher in a single season.

Gustavus had nine different players collect hits in the nightcap. Of those nine, only Click and Brown had more than one hit. Collins started the game on the mound for Gustavus and pitched the four innings to push her season record to a perfect 6-0. She was relieved by Callie Nelsen who finished off the game by giving up one run on two hits.

Concordia will finish off the 2007 season by playing Carleton at St. Ben's on Wednesday, May 2 at 4 p.m. The game was originally schedule for Monday, Apr. 30 at Carleton but was postponed due to heavy rains in the Northfield area.