JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Two low-scoring, swiftly-played games unfolded on Tuesday (April 21) as the Concordia University Softball team and Jamestown made up a doubleheader that had been scheduled for this past weekend. Aces Camry Moore and Kat Miska battled in a game 1 that was decided by a walk-off home run for the Jimmies (3-1 final). The Bulldogs responded to take game 2, 4-2, with the help of two RBI singles from Caitlyn McGarvie.
Still receiving votes in the NAIA national poll, Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad has run its record to 21-7 overall (7-5 GPAC). Concordia has played each of the four teams currently situated above it in the league standings.
“Game 1 was a classic pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference,” Semler said. “I thought Camry caught the corner of home on a play at the plate, but the call didn’t go our way. We score there and go up 2-1 it might play out differently. I love how we came back after a tough loss to get game 2. Jerzi (Rowe) threw great and gave us a chance to get our bats going and get a split.”
The Bulldogs led virtually the entire way in game 2 after a run came home in the top of the first as a result of a Tori Homolka single that was then misplayed in the outfield. McGarvie notched an RBI single apiece in the third and fifth innings. Also in the fifth, Regan Karel added an insurance run with a base hit to score Hhana Haro. Concordia led, 4-1, at the time.
Freshman Jerzi Rowe fired five solid frames in the second contest. She allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out two. Semler then turned to Moore for the final six outs. Moore faced the minimum in snappy sixth and seventh innings. The Crete native also threw 6.2 innings (complete game) of game 1, which ended with a walk-off two-run homer from Jenna Remenar. On the day, Moore surrendered just three runs in 8.2 innings of work.
The Bulldogs saw firsthand why Miska (13-2) has been so successful this season for Jamestown (26-10, 9-5 GPAC). She covered all seven innings of game 1 and allowed just three hits while recording seven strikeouts. Her lone run conceded came via a Moore RBI triple that brought home Jenessa Jarvis in the top of the fourth. Haro and McGarvie added one hit apiece in game 1.
Concordia had much better offensive success in game 2 when it pounded out 11 hits, including two each from Homolka, Karel and McGarvie. Haro contributed with a base hit and two walks. The 19 combined hits between the two sides in game 2 were all singles.
After a long road trip, four weekend home games are up next. The Bulldogs will celebrate the senior class on Saturday when Mount Marty (17-12, 8-6 GPAC) will be in town for a 1 p.m. CT doubleheader. Concordia will also host Briar Cliff on Sunday while wrapping up the regular season home slate.