WICHITA, Kan. – A one-run loss in extra innings wound up as the lone blemish during the Concordia University Softball team’s weekend stay in Wichita, Kan. In action on Saturday (March 5), the Bulldogs rallied to tie Mount Mercy University (Iowa) before falling in eight innings, 6-5. To cap the day, Concordia rebounded by pummeling in-state Peru State College, 11-3, in six innings. Both contests were part of the Friends University Invitational.
The loss to Mount Marty snapped a seven-game win streak, but Head Coach Tatum Edwards’ squad will take a strong 9-3 overall record into this coming week’s Tucson Invitational.
“We’ve shown we can make great adjustments and really fight,” Edwards said. “That’s the type of team that we are and that I want us to be. Being able to come back in that first game was great to see and was a good experience for us. That’s what a lot of games are going to be like later in the season. We’ve shown that we can do well in those games. We didn’t come out on top that first game, but we showed good fight and I was proud of them for that.”
In the final game in Wichita, the Bulldogs pounced early when Caitlyn McGarvie doubled home two runs in the top of the first. Then in the second, Kylee Nixon drilled a two-run homer as part of a three-run second inning. Both the second baseman Nixon and right fielder Maggi Hughes went 4-for-4 in the game. Nixon scored three runs while Hughes notched two stolen bases. In addition, Camry Moore went 2-for-3 with three runs and two walks and Taylor Glause collected two hits, a run and an RBI. Concordia tagged Peru State pitching for 18 hits (10 Bulldogs registered at least one hit).
Said Edwards, ““That team offensive mentality is what will get us where we want to be. We had people step up. Maggi had an awesome game and Alexis Tachovsky did a really good job. We want everyone to be ready.”
A day after firing a seven-inning no-hitter, Moore threw five innings against Peru State and surrendered just one earned run on five hits. She was credited with the win. The Crete High School produced allowed a grand total of one baserunner (via error) in Friday’s outing. Megan Eurich also threw one inning against Peru State.
A four-run third inning for Mount Mercy put the Bulldogs in a 4-1 hole in the day’s first game. Concordia chipped away with the help of Aubrey Bruning’s RBI single in the fifth and then with RBI sacrifice bunts from McGarvie and Hanna Bowers in the sixth. Those efforts in the clutch eventually forced extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the Sam Lee connected for a two-run homer that proved to be the game winner. In the bottom half, Glause singled home a run before the Mustangs (6-7) recorded the game’s final out. Moore and Kylie Shottenkirk both went 2-for-4 in the contest.
In the circle, Jerzi Rowe covered 5.1 innings against Mount Mercy and allowed just one earned run on five hits and two walks. Brooke Townsend started and pitched 2.2 innings before being relieved by Rowe. On the other side, Kalli Minger picked up the win while throwing two innings in relief.
While the Bulldogs will be off from competition on Sunday, they will hop on a plane headed to Tucson, Ariz., for the Tucson Invitational. Concordia will begin action from The Grand Canyon State on Monday with games against William Penn University (Iowa) at 1:15 p.m. CT and Roosevelt University (Ill.) at 3:30 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs are slated to play seven games before leaving Tucson. Said Edwards, “We’re looking forward to being in the sun, being with each other and having a good time on spring break. Bring it on.”