CRETE, Neb. – Sophomore Tori Homolka keeps on smashing and senior Brittany Woolridge keeps on dealing in the circle – and the Concordia University softball team keeps on winning. In action that took place on the Crete High School diamond in Crete, Neb., the Bulldogs swept hometown Doane with victories coming by scores of 6-4 and 5-0 on Wednesday (March 27). It was a homecoming for Crete High alums in senior Jamie Lefebure, sophomore MacKinsey Schmidt and freshman Camry Moore.
Head coach Shawn Semler’s squad has won 12 games in a row and appears to be one that should be pushing for national attention in the polls. That lack of respect hasn’t dampened the spirits of Concordia (13-3, 2-0 GPAC).
“I think the girls were pretty excited to play here today,” Semler said. “Doane’s a good team. It was just nice to see us come out and hit the ball well and put a lot of pressure on them. We shut them down in the end (of game one) and then came out in game two with a lot of spirit and really got after them.”
The ball is screaming off the bat of Homolka, the reigning GPAC Player of the Week. In game one, Homolka carried the Bulldog offense by belting a three-run homer in the second inning and then a game-winning two-run blast in the sixth as part of a 3-for-4, five-RBI performance. She did not stop there. She laced a pair of doubles and scored a run in the second game.
The native of Swanton, Neb., says she found a way of calming herself at the plate during the team’s stay at the Tucson Invitational. It’s working. More than anything, she’s just happy to be part of the ride this team is enjoying.
“It’s so fun. I wouldn’t trade this team for the world,” Homolka said. “It’s been a blast and I just want to keep it going.”
Woolridge was lights out in game two while running her record to a spotless 6-0. She only struck out two hitters, but often induced weak contact and then let her defense do the work – the Bulldogs were completely error free on Wednesday. Woolridge faced only 24 batters in a fast moving complete game shutout.
Concordia got all the offense it needed in game two with a four-run first inning. Schmidt got the rally going by singling and scoring on a base hit by Hhana Haro. The big blow was delivered by Elanna Osthoff, who crushed a three-run homer to left center. The final tally of the contest came from another Haro RBI single in the second. Homolka, Haro, Moore and Osthoff each recorded two hits in the win.
Moore also took to the rubber for game one while in her old high school digs. She also spun a complete game while scattering nine hits and one walk (four earned runs). In that same game, Jayden Lindgren connected for a solo homer.
Positive contributions are coming up and down the lineup and from anyone Semler puts in the circle. There’s a lot of season left, but the Bulldogs like where they stand.
Said Semler, “We have so many options. The game two lineup was quite a bit different from game one. It’s just kids going out there and playing hard. That’s the beauty of this group right now – they’re just going out and playing hard for each other.”
Doane (9-13, 1-3 GPAC) split with Morningside in a Sunday doubleheader. Star Tiger Jordan Van Roy had a clutch two-run triple in game one to tie the score in the fifth. It remained 4-4 until Homolka’s second home run of the contest.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Northwestern (7-12, 0-2 GPAC). First pitch from Orange City, Iowa is set for 1 p.m. CT. As the schedule currently stands, the final 20 games of the regular season will all be against conference opponents.