Bulldogs win twice in Sioux City
*Box scores unavailable at time of release
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Junior right-handed pitcher Amanda Beeson continued her dominance in the circle as the Bulldogs won twice at the Morningside Softball Invitational Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday. Head coach Frank Greene’s squad defeated Dakota State University (S.D.) 3-1 prior to clobbering Mayville State University (N.D.) 10-1 in the final game of the day.
The Bulldogs, winners of five of their last six, boosted their record to 7-10.
“We’re playing with a little more consistency,” head coach Frank Greene said. “We still have work to do and everyone knows that, but we are progressing. We had a couple communication plays that worked out well because everyone talked. It’s not as easy as you think. That communication is very important.”
Once again Beeson (3-5) stole the show with a masterful performance, falling one strike short of a third-straight shutout on the way to recording the game one win. Beeson’s scoreless streak was finally snapped at 21.1 innings when she surrendered a run to Dakota State (8-7) with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. She struck out 12 to give her 64 punch outs in 57.2 innings this season.
“She feels more comfortable and she looks more comfortable,” Greene said. “And (catcher Amber) Topil calls a good game. They work well together. Amanda was very calm in the circle and that usually leads to doing well.”
Freshman Danielle Harstad provided much of the offense in game one with a sacrifice fly and a booming home run to left field in the sixth to give Beeson more breathing room. Her sister Angela also added a run-scoring single as part of a two-run third.
Concordia then slugged its way to a 10-1 victory in game two behind 13 hits. Four Bulldogs mustered two or more hits in the blowout win over Mayville State (2-9): Angela Harstad (3-for-4, double), Topil (2-for-3, double, triple), Liz Maxwell (2-for-3) and Danielle Harstad (2-for-4).
Freshman Julia Tyree (4-5) tossed a complete game and allowed only two hits and one earned run against Mayville State. Beeson and Tyree have thrown all but 2.2 innings through the first 17 games of the season.
Over her last three starts, Beeson has given up just a single run in 21 innings of work. She has won all three games and struck out 30 during that stretch.
Concordia returns home for a busy week of action against GPAC foes at Plum Creek Park. The Bulldogs will host four GPAC doubleheaders between Tuesday and Sunday. Up next is a pair of games versus Dordt at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.