Bulldogs sweep past Sioux Falls

Concordia University celebrated Senior Night with a much needed GPAC softball sweep over Sioux Falls on Wednesday evening in Seward.  Scores were 1-0 and 2-1.  The wins improved Concordia to 22-12 overall and 11-5 in the GPAC.  Sioux Falls dropped to 6-16 overall and 4-10 in the GPAC. 

Game one was a pitching dual between Amanda Beeson and Bailey Bouman.  Concordia scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the seventh.  With one out in the inning, Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) doubled.  Alyssa Bauwens (Perryville, Mo.) followed with a game-winning RBI single through the left side of the infield. 

Concordia finished with just five hits in the game, but Beeson was solid on the mound.  The freshman improved to 5-5 on the year with the shutout.  She allowed just four hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts.  Bouman was also impressive, allowing just the one run with one walk and three strikeouts for the Cougars.

Pitching continued to dominate in game two, as the teams combined for just eight hits in the contest.  Bouman was again solid on the mound for USF, while Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.) was in control on the mound for the Bulldogs. 

The Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.  Mikaela Klein (Grand Island, Neb.) led off the inning with a double.  Beeson followed with an RBI single to put Concordia on top. 

Sioux Falls tied the game with an unearned run in the third.  Baylee Washburn led off the inning with a single and stole second.  Shae Reinke then reached on a Bulldog throwing error, and Washburn scored to tie the game at 1-1. 

The score remained the same until the sixth inning.  Concordia dodged potential trouble in the top of the inning.  The Cougars put runners at second and third with two outs, but Sempek got Jamie Sorensen to ground out to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Bulldog senior Clarissa Eloge (Rising City, Neb.) doubled to lead off the inning.  Following a groundout, Beeson walked to put runners at first and second.  Eloge was forced out on a fielder’s choice, which left runners at first and second with two outs.  From there, Bouman had trouble finding the strike zone.  Nicole Mapes (Greeley, Colo.) drew a walk to load the bases, and Amber Topil (Seward, Neb.) walked to drive in Beeson.  The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead on just one hit and three walks.  Sempek shut down the Cougars in order in the top of the seventh, and Concordia secured the sweep.    

Concordia finished with five hits in game two.  Eloge was 2-for-3 to lead the way.  Sempek (12-4) allowed just the one unearned run on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts to pick up the win on the mound. 

The Bulldogs return to action on April 27 at Doane College.