SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University softball team will open its season against Ottawa University (Kan.) this Saturday (Feb. 10). The Bulldogs will travel to the Dick Peters Sports Complex and face off against a Braves squad that already has four games and four wins under their belt. This will be Head Coach Brock Culler’s second year as the skipper of a mixed group of experienced and newcomers.
This Week
Saturday, Feb. 10 at Ottawa (4-0), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Location: Dick Peters Sports Complex (Ottawa, Kan.)
--Note: There will be no live stats for the two contests.
Like any team about to begin their year, the Bulldogs are excited that the talking season is over and are ready to compete against someone other than themselves. They will look to improve their 15-30 (4-18 GPAC) record from the 2023 campaign. Concordia returns three All-GPAC Honorable Mention players in Hanna Bowers, Aubrey Bruning and Kylie Shottenkirk. Pitcher Megan Eurich returns as the veteran on the mound, with a wealth of experience through her first two years. Bowers, who led the team in hitting percentage (.361 BA) will look to reach even higher marks in her third year as a Bulldog. Concordia averaged a 4.58 ERA and 4.2 runs a contest.
The Braves were ranked No. 17 in November from the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll and were selected to finish first in the KCAC coaches’ preseason poll. The three-peat KCAC Champions have back to back double header sweeps over Hastings (6-1, 6-0) and Haskell Indian Nations University (12-0, 22-4) of Kansas. They returned 23 players from their roster last season, including All-KCAC Loralei Gilbert (1st Team), Ashlynn Mercer (1st Team) and Nayely Delgado (2nd Team).
A 2023 season preview for Concordia Softball can be found HERE. Concordia was ranked to finish 9th in the GPAC preseason poll and is linked HERE.
Concordia will travel to Kansas, Mo. for four games through next weekend. The Bulldogs will take on Evangel University (Mo.), Bethel College (Kan.), Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Ind.) and Benedictine College (Kan.) at the Home Field Complex. The first matchup will start on Friday against Evangel University at noon CT.