PORTLAND, Ore.— Concordia University pitched 14 scoreless innings as the Cavaliers defeated Simon Fraser University 4-0 in  both ends of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday.

The sweep allowed Concordia to improve to 23-16 on the season and 8-6 in GNAC games to create some separation from a logjam in the league standings. Simon Fraser fell to 23-19 overall and 9-11 in GNAC contests. The loss dropped the Clan to sixth in the conference.

Simon Fraser is at Western Oregon Wolves (17-18, 7-7) on Sunday for a doubleheader before returning home to play a rematch against Concordia on Tuesday at noon and 2:00 pm at Beedie Field on campus.

"We ran into an opponent who took advantages of some early miscues in both games," said Clan head coach Mike Renney. "When we fell behind our bats also fell silent and we could not string any hits together. We will need to bounce back quickly or playoffs will become out of our reach."

Game 1 - SFU 0 CU 4

Behind a three-hit performance by starter Jessica Lambourn, Concordia defeated Simon Fraser 4-0 in the opener on Saturday.

Offensively, the Cavaliers scored all they would need in the first inning picking up one run, with Meghan Luebbert scoring from third on a double steal.

The Cavs went on to strand seven runners through the first three innings while only adding a second score in the third frame.

Despite giving up the two runs, SFU starter Alia Stachoski escaped added damage in the first and second innings with pop ups in the infield and in the third inning on a grounder to the shortstop to leave six runners in scoring position on base.

On the second pitch of the fifth inning, Taylor Copher added to the CU advantage with a smash over the left-field fence for her fourth home run of the season and the Cavaliers added another run in the inning.

Stachoski pitched five innings giving up nine hits and all four runs to fall to 12-8 on the season. Jessica Tate pitched the final inning in relief.

Game 2 - SFU 0 CU 4

CU pitcher Maddie Boucher struck out four batters and allowed one walk for her first shutout of the season.

The Cavs struck for three runs in the first inning and then added scored off a one-out triple to right in the second.

SFU placed a pair of runners on base in the fourth with a leadoff walk by Nicole Ratel and a one-out single by Taylor Gillis. A fielder's choice removed the lead runner before a grounder to third kept the shutout intact.

The Cavs threatened to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth but were derailed on a defensive gem by SFU shortstop Taylor Lundrigan, who charged forward to collect a shallow popup and made a quick throw to first for an inning-ending double play. 

Both teams placed runners in scoring position in the sixth but failed to add runs to the total.

SFU pitcher Tori Belton went five inning giving up eight hits and all four runs before giving way to senior Jessica Goulet for the final inning.

Follow the SFU Clan softball team for behind the scenes pictures and more all season long on their official Instagram account @sfu_softball.

-- Files by Concordia Sports Information

--@SFUClan--