SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Softball enters conference competition versus a tough Dakota Wesleyan on the road in the coming days. The Bulldogs will travel to to Mitchell, S.D. on Saturday for back to back doubleheaders. Concordia has started to find a rhythm going 7-1 at the Tucson Invitational and has won the last nine of 10 games totaling an overall solid showing (15-7). The doubleheader on Friday versus Morningside has been postponed.
Friday, March 21 at Morningside (15-9, 3-1 GPAC), 3 p.m. DH
--POSTPONED
Saturday, March 22 at Dakota Wesleyan (21-6, 2-0 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Cadwell Park (Mitchell, S.D.)
By the numbers
· In Tucson, the Bulldogs defeated William Penn University (Iowa), 5-2, Franklin and Marshall College (Pa.), 9-7, Viterbo University (Wisc.), 11-3, Mayville State University (N.D.), 9-0, Valley City State University (N.D.), 8-3, Salve Regina University (R.I.), 6-2, and Simpson University (Calif.), 8-3. The lone loss came from the hands of Westcliff University (Calif.), 14-5. Six Concordia Softball players hit over a .350 batting average: Hanna Bowers (.542), Jennifer Katz (.520), Grace Maguire (.500), Aubrey Bruning (.429), Aubriana Krieser (.385) and Taryn Ganstrom (.385). Katz (10 RBIs) and Krieser tagged six two-baggers in the invite and Bowers (10 RBIs) followed with five plus hit the lone homer. Ace Megan Eurich went 4-0 (one shutout) on the trip to the Grand Canyon state and hurled 34 strikeouts (zero walks) in 28.2 innings pitched. Ganstrom (2-1) only allowed seven earned runs and Kaylei Denison (1-0) gave up five.
· Eurich earned GPAC Pitcher of the Week for her play from March 3-9. After starting with a 1-4 rocky record, the legendary single season strikeout leader has returned to form going 5-0 since. The Gretna, Neb., native is tied for 13th (2nd in GPAC) in the NAIA in strikeouts (73) and has the second highest strikeouts per 7 innings (7.94) in the GPAC. With only 12 walks given up in 64.1 frames, Eurich has earned a 1.26 WHIP. Following her first strikeout of the final day in Tucson, Eurich reached 400 career strikeouts. Totaling 408 total punch outs, Eurich eclipsed Amanda Hehn (2004-07) to fourth for all-time career strikeouts in Concordia Softball history.
· In his first two seasons, Head Coach Brock Culler posted records of 11-12 and 10-14 going under .500 in his first two non-conference seasons. With the growing depth and belief in the ultra-positive Culler, the Bulldogs posted their best non-conference record (15-7) since 2021. Having already matched his win total from year one, Concordia’s softball program has improved under the Cairo, Neb., product to move in position for a chance at the conference title.
· The dynamic Katz continues to mash the ball with a team high on-base percentage (.515) and is tied for eighth (16) in the NAIA in extra base hits (16) and triples (four). With the second highest batting average (.458) and slugging percentage in the GPAC, the Louisville High slugger is a perfect 9-9 in stolen bases this season. An Omaha, Neb., native, Katz has 27 hits, 23 runs, 18 runs batted in, nine doubles, three home runs and four walks.
· The top five records going into GPAC play lead off with No. 4 Northwestern with a 22-5 record and Dakota Wesleyan not far behind at 21-6. No. 21 Midland sits at 17-9 and Morningside at 15-9 record. Concordia rounds out the top 5 with a 15-7 total. Massey Ratings has Concordia ranked No. 66 with a strength of schedule rating at 137. The ratings for the rest of the conference teams in order are Northwestern (17), Midland (27), Morningside (40), Dakota Wesleyan (44), Hastings (100), Doane (107), Mount Marty (120), Dordt (121), Briar Cliff (145), and CSM (163). The top of the conference’s strength of schedule ratings starts with the Mustangs (45), Warriors (90), Red Raiders (94), and Tigers (141).
Upcoming opponents
Morningside has acquired a 15-9 overall record and is four games into conference play going 3-1. The Mustangs split with Midland and swept Mount Marty in their last four. They have 12 home runs and 71 extra base hits while allowing their opponents 44. Jenna Skradski (.397), Kennedy Wineland (.393), and Paige Schuster (.386) lead a team that has a group hitting percentage of .327. Averaging six runs per game, Morningside hits a .491 slugging percentage and a .391 on-base percentage. Morgan Secora (5-2) and Adeline Fliege (5-3) see the majority of the time in the circle. Secora has a 3.50 ERA allowing 51 hits, 24 earned runs, 18 strikeouts and 16 walks. Fliege has a team low 2.59 ERA giving up 49 hits, 18 earned runs, 33 strikeouts and 14 walks.
Dakota Wesleyan has played 27 games and posted a 21-6 record sweeping Mount Marty in the GPAC series opener. On a three game win streak, the Tigers have lived on the long ball with 26 home runs and a team .570 slugging percentage. Ashlen Johnson (eight) and McKinnely Mull (seven) are the leaders going yard. Mull, the NAIA national player of the week (March 18), went 13-for-23 and hit a 1.391 slug percentage last week. With 20 extra base hits, Mull has a team high in batting average (.461) and slugging percentage (.921). Peyton Bagley (.444) and Johnson (.386) are right behind Mull in batting average. Mull has 19 stolen bags. Alison Ernsberger is the primary starter with a 2.41 ERA after 101.2 innings pitched. She is 11-3, allowing 35 earned runs and 90 putouts. Keirstyn Krcil has spent 66.1 frames inside the circle and allowed 99 hits, 45 earned runs with 41 strikeouts.
Up next
Concordia continues in conference competitions and faces off against Hastings and Briar Cliff. The Bulldogs will travel to Hastings on Wednesday (March 26) and will host its home opener versus the Chargers on Saturday at Plum Creek Park.