Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN MARCOS, Calif.— Facing the defending NAIA national champions and the current top-ranked team, No. 5 Cal State San Marcos saw its undefeated home record and its 18-game win streaks put to a halt Sunday, falling 6-1 and 1-0 to Concordia at the CSUSM Softball Field.

The Eagles got off to a strong start with three runs in the first inning on a homerun by third baseman Hannah Howell, grabbing a comfortable lead in what was otherwise a very closely played game.

Holly Fauria and the Cougars were able to cut into the lead in the fifth inning with a RBI infield single that the speedy freshman legged out.

Despite mowing down the Eagles and allowing just two hits from the second to the fifth innings, Concordia's Howell struck again with her second three-run bomb of the day, smacking it off the scoreboard for an emphatic final change in momentum.

Katie Wilkinson (18-3) allowed eight hits over seven innings but had a strong showing against Concordia other than the two homeruns. The power-hitting Eagles rank second in the NAIA in homeruns per game.

The second game was a classic pitcher's duel, with Concordia's Brittani McGue and Ashley Dagenais taking turns adding zeros up on the scoreboard.

Dagenais escaped a jam in the top of the third with the bases loaded and one out, but induced a pop-up and struck out Howell to end the frame. Howell, who had 6 RBI in game one, went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against Dagenais in the second game.

Concordia finally broke through in the fifth inning when the NAIA's top hitter Jenna Jorgenson slapped an RBI single into right field to plate the game's only run.

The Cougars put runners on base in each of the final three innings, including getting back-to-back hits with two outs in the seventh inning but Brogan Hoenisch's liner was snagged in foul territory by the left fielder with a nice catch to end the game.

Melyssa Bellamy almost tied the game earlier leading off the top of the seventh, crushing a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall, but the ball sailed foul by about five feet.

Concordia improved to 43-5 with the pair of wins, while CSUSM dropped to 31-5-1 on the season with four regular season games remaining on its schedule. The Cougars play their final home games Tuesday with a doubleheader against the University of Antelope Valley for senior day, then travel to Lancaster to wrap up the schedule with another doubleheader against the Pioneers.

CSUSM will also compete in the A.I.I. Conference Championship May 1-3 in Gwinnet, Ga. with a chance to earn a berth to the NAIA National Championships for the fifth straight season.