SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – A much anticipated 2025 season arrived on Saturday (Feb. 1) morning as the Concordia University, Nebraska Softball team displayed a strong 1-2 punch in the pitching circle. In contests that took place inside the American State Bank Sports Complex in Sioux Center, Iowa, the Bulldogs earned a 5-0 win over NAIA foe Mayville State University (N.D.) before dropping a 4-3 decision at the hands of NCAA Division II opponent University of Sioux Falls. Sophomore Kaylei Denison tossed a two-hit shutout in the victory.
Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad enters ’25 with high expectations after surging to third place in the final 2024 GPAC standings. Culler liked plenty of what he saw on Saturday.
“I had a pretty good idea of what our pitching was going to be like,” Culler said. “The pitching looked good, and we’re really good defensively. It’s going to be about our hitting. Against Sioux Falls, their pitcher threw well today, and we didn’t make any adjustments the first five innings. We got on our team a little bit about the outside pitch. We made that adjustment and had the tying run on second base (in the seventh). There’s a lot to be excited about. We needed these first two games to get a read on where we’re at. If they could go play another game today, they would.”
Very little run production was needed against the Comets as Denison dealt pellets in the circle. The Waverly, Neb., native surrendered a single in the second and a bunt hit in the third as the only hits in what amounted to Denison’s first career shutout. Denison also worked around four walks while fanning eight Mayville State batters. The defense behind her committed just a single error. That defense included Taryn Ganstrom at shortstop.
Offensively, Concordia did its damage in the third and sixth innings when it scored three and two runs, respectively. In the third, Hanna Bowers and Aubriana Krieser delivered an RBI single apiece and another run came home thanks to some aggressive base running. Three frames later, Jennifer Katz added insurance with a rocket of a two-run homer (third of Bulldog career) to left. As part of the attack in game one, Aubrey Bruning and Delanie Voshell both doubled.
Ace pitcher Megan Eurich then took the ball in game two and worked all six innings. The Cougars managed to push across a run apiece in the first and second frames and then two more in the fourth. Trailing 4-1 after fiving innings, Concordia made a late push. Tobi Topp drove in a run with a ground out in the sixth and Krieser doubled home a run in the seventh. With the potential tying run at second base and two outs in the seventh, Sioux Falls pitcher Maddie Duncan coaxed a grounder to second to end the game.
Eurich tightened the screws by throwing scoreless fifth and sixth innings against Sioux Falls. She allowed four runs on five hits and two walks to go along with five strikeouts. At the plate, the Bulldogs were limited to five hits (only one extra-base hit) by Duncan, who went all seven innings. Opposing pitchers faced a Concordia lineup largely featuring established returners, but two players made their Bulldog debuts as starters on Saturday: freshman Avery O’Boyle at catcher (game one) and Topp at designated player (game two). O’Boyle notched her first collegiate hit in her first collegiate at bat.
The work of Denison stood out as an overwhelming positive of the season’s first day. Said Culler, “One of the things I really wanted to see was how Kaylei would perform. She threw really well today. She showed a lot of confidence, good energy and she commanded her pitches well. She controlled the hitters and did a great job. That’s a big thing for us.”
The Bulldogs will be right back to action at the ASB Sports Complex on Sunday for a doubleheader with Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT. Live stats will be available via the Concordia Softball team’s GameChanger account. Follow @cunebulldogs on X/Twitter for updates.