Beeson sparks doubleheader rout of Central Christian
McPHERSON, Kan. – Junior right-hander Amanda Beeson could do no wrong in Concordia’s doubleheader sweep at Central Christian College on Wednesday afternoon. The native of Waverly, Neb., did it with both her pitching arm and her bat in leading the Bulldogs to 8-0 and 17-4 wins over the host Tigers. Concordia improved to 4-9 on the young season.
Beeson was nearly untouchable in her game one performance. She fired a seven-inning, three-hit shutout that included a career-high 13 strikeouts. That number topped her previous career best of 11 strikeouts her freshman year against Sioux Falls (S.D.). She now has 46 punch outs in 43.1 innings this season.
“Amanda’s pitched good games, but we haven’t won because we haven’t given her enough support,” head coach Frank Greene said. “I think she’s pitched great this season. We just got her more runs today.”
Beeson followed that masterful effort in the circle with a 3-for-3 day at the plate in game two to power Concordia to a five-inning, eight-run rule win. She added four RBIs and two runs in the 17-4 whipping of Central Christian (4-12). She got the outburst going with a run-scoring single as part of a nine-run first inning.
Eight of nine Bulldogs in the game two starting lineup recorded at least one hit with five tallying two or more hits. Angela Harstad (3-for-4, three runs, two RBIs) and Liz Maxwell (3-for-4, one RBI) joined Beeson in the three-hit club. As a team, Concordia pounded out 16 hits – four for extra bases.
“We didn’t do anything magical,” Greene said. “We ran the bases well and we hit the ball. We got a couple wins that we needed before conference play.”
Molly Madsen, who started both games at first base on Wednesday, went a combined 3-for-6 with four runs and three RBIs on the day. Centerfielder Natalie Svoboda rebounded from an 0-for-4 game one with a 2-for-4 game two. Greene notes the importance of getting both standouts going with the bat.
Julia Tyree picked up her third win of the season by throwing a solid game of her own in the final contest of the day. She picked up a five-inning complete game and gave up only one earned run on five hits and a walk while striking out six.
Like game two, the Bulldogs pounced on top of the Tigers early and pushed across five runs in the first inning. Other highlights in the opening contest included catcher Amber Topil’s two-run double and third baseman Hayley Carsten’s two hits in three at bats.
Concordia, not known as a speed team, swiped a combined eight bases in the two games. Each of the eight stolen bases were recorded by different individuals.
With doubleheaders on Thursday and Saturday already canceled because of unseasonably cold weather forecasts, Concordia’s next scheduled games are set for Tuesday, March 26 at Doane (2 p.m.).
Wednesday’s offensive surge gives the Bulldogs added confidence with the GPAC slate looming.
“It’s a boost,” Greene said. “The fact is that the games (in California) are over and we’re moving forward. This will certainly help. I still have high expectations. I think this team could win the conference, but we have to play like it. When it’s time to step up, we will.”