Beeson and Madsen nab second team all-conference honors

GPAC release

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a GPAC tournament runner up finish, Concordia University softball received representation on the all-conference teams announced Monday as both senior pitcher Amanda Beeson and junior first baseman Molly Madsen were placed on the second team. Senior catcher Amber Topil, this past weekend’s hero, garnered honorable mention.

Beeson (2013 honorable mention), a native of Waverly, Neb., ranked among the top pitchers in the GPAC in virtually every key statistical category. She led the conference in strikeouts (182) and innings pitched (188.1) and ranked second in wins (19), sixth in ERA (2.53) and ninth in opponent batting average (.253). In her career, Beeson is 39-37 with a 3.05 ERA and 463 strikeouts in 510.1 innings.

Madsen, the team’s cleanup hitter, makes her second career appearance on the GPAC’s second team (2012). The native of Thornton, Colo., is third on the team in batting average (.326) and second in RBIs (32). At first, Madsen recorded 330 put outs and a .988 fielding percentage.

Topil (Seward, Neb.) has career highs in virtually every major offensive statistic, including batting average (.315), RBIs (28), doubles (12), hits (39), runs (20) and slugging percentage (.435). She also came through with perhaps the most significant hit in program history – a two-run walk-off home run to beat Midland at the GPAC tournament and secure the Bulldogs’ spot in the national championship opening round. Topil was named to the conference’s second team in 2013.

Head coach Todd LaVelle’s Bulldogs (32-14) will be back in action May 12 at the 2014 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. Brackets and site placements for the opening round will be announced at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.