ATCHISON, Kan. – Concordia University, Nebraska Softball competed against Benedictine College on Sunday (Feb. 15) but lost in both games (4-0, 7-3). The Bulldogs left 14 runners on base in the two contests, but couldn’t find enough bat-to-ball clutch connections to plate the runners against a talented Ravens' pitching staff in Atchison.
Concordia moves to .500 (5-5) on the season looking to find the timely swing in big-time competitions.
“If you wanted to sum up today, it was missed opportunities on our side and we gave up too many free bases,” Head Coach Brock Culler commented. “We walked batters and made errors on routine plays that would have got us out of innings. It’s frustrating to watch, but I will say, this team is resilient. They never ever pack it in. It’s a fiery dugout. We have good depth. If we want to beat a good team, we have to start beating those teams.”
Down 4-0 in the final innings of the first of two in the doubleheader, the Bulldogs loaded the bases (one out) forcing the Benedictine to throw back in star pitcher Bailey Selvage. The Raven hurler chunked up a pop out and called strike three to end the best chances of a visitor comeback.
In game two, Concordia was down 6-1 in the sixth but after a Tobi Topp walk, Grace Zaugg laced an RBI double to force another pitching change in Lacey Foster. Avery O’Boyle kept the offensive train rolling with an RBI single to score Zaugg, but Foster would earn the save through a ground out and pop out to survive the Dawgs best chance of getting back into the mix.
Zaugg, out of Watkins, Iowa, went 2-for-2 in the only game played (game two) and has been dangerous inside the batters’ box. The senior second-game right fielder hit a combined 4-for-5 in her past two starts also producing two doubles, three RBIs, two runs, two stolen bases and a walk.
Culler added, “Grace Zaugg is swinging the bat really well right now. That’s a good surprise and its good to see that from her. She will continue to get opportunities. Briley Morgan threw pretty well. She threw some big pitches that produced ground balls. Mary Beth is just super consistent. You know what you are going to get from her.”
Mary Beth Hart (2-for-4) and freshman third baseman Bailey Merritt (2-for-3) whacked multiple knocks in game two along with Zaugg. O’Boyle (1-for-1), Hart (two stolen bases) and Zaugg (one stolen base) all drove home runs in the final outing.
Freshman flamethrower threw a quality game coming in relief to hurl two strikeouts, and allowing three hits, one earned run, two walks in 2.2 innings pitched.
Grace Maguire (two), Topp, Laycee Josoff and Aubriana Krieser all produced a hit in the 14 innings played.
Concordia (5-5) will travel to McPherson, Kan., to face Kansas Christian College (0-0) on Saturday (Feb. 21). The Bulldogs will start the doubleheader at 1 p.m. CT.