TUCSON, Ariz. – Wrapping up its Arizona spring break trip, the Concordia softball team went 2-1 on the day, suffering its first loss of the trip. The Bulldogs defeated Cardinal Stritch and William Penn while falling to Olivet Nazarene. Concordia finished the week 9-1.
The Bulldogs move to 12-3 this season after the two victories and one loss Friday.
Head coach Todd LaVelle said, “We’ve known since May last year what freshman, transfers and red shirts we had coming in, so our bar was set very high with this team. We wanted to come down here and make our identity to the rest of the softball community known. I think the girls did that…We came down here and got everyone’s best shots.”
After scoring in every inning, the Bulldogs took a 9-1 victory in six innings against Cardinal Stritch who is receiving votes in the national poll. Taylor Huff ripped a two-run double to left center in the first inning to start things off for the Bulldogs. In the third inning, Autumn Owens jacked a two run homer over the left field fence to score Concordia’s fourth and fifth runs. In the final inning, Megan Ruppert hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Kerrigan Anspauch to score the ninth run to end the game. All of the Bulldog starters recorded at least one hit in the game.
Kylie Harpst was in the circle facing the Wolves and got the win.
William Penn was the next opponent for Concordia. The game lasted a full seven innings, breaking the three-game streak of shortened contests. The ‘Dogs entered the third inning with a 4-0 lead. The Statesmen scored in each of the third through sixth innings to threaten Concordia’s lead. However, the Bulldogs were able to hang on to the lead thanks to two doubles from Huff and Julia Tyree and a triple from Michaela Woodward in the third and fourth innings. All three scored to lift the Bulldogs’ score to a final seven runs.
Woodward took care of pitching duties during the middle game of the day, recording a win.
The last game of the day and of the spring break trip, Concordia suffered defeat for the first time in Arizona. Olivet Nazarene outscored the Bulldogs 3-2. The Bulldogs’ runs came late in the game in the form of Ruppert in the fifth inning and Woodward in the sixth. Woodward’s tally was a homerun.
Harpst started the final game in the circle and was relieved by Woodward in the fourth.
“Obviously 9-1 is a good tournament. The girls showed a lot of fight through tough games throughout the week. We’re excited to get back to Nebraska and play a few more non-conference game and then head into in the conference,” LaVelle said.
On March 16 the Concordia softball team will play its next contests. The Bulldogs will travel to Bethany College for a double header beginning at 4 p.m.