SEWARD, Neb. – An early season matchup of the top two teams in the official GPAC ratings will take place on Tuesday as the Concordia University Softball team gets set to host 16th-ranked Morningside. First pitch from Plum Creek Park is slated for 5 p.m. CT. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad opened up conference play last week by sweeping a doubleheader at Hastings before splitting a home twin bill with Northwestern. The program had gone roughly 700 days between home games.
This Week
Concordia (17-3, 3-1) vs. No. 16 Morningside (24-3, 2-0)
Tuesday, March 30 | 5 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Fan policy: Fan attendance will not be limited at Plum Creek Park. However, fans encouraged to wear masks and to distance themselves from other family groups. Admission can be purchased on site on game days.
By the numbers
· At 17-3, the Bulldogs have their best 20-game record to begin a season in the history of the program. In recent seasons, Concordia has had strong starts in 2020 (12-2 when season was cut short), 2019 (16-4), 2017 (13-7), 2016 (15-5) and 2014 (16-4). The Bulldogs appeared second among others receiving votes in the NAIA national poll released last week. The program continues to seek its first top 25 national ranking since 1998.
· Shortstop Tori Homolka is smoldering at the plate. She went 6-for-12 (.500) with two home runs and eight RBIs over last week’s four games. On the season, the native of Swanton, Neb., is batting .438 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBIs and an .828 slugging percentage. On the program’s all-time lists, Homolka ranks second in triples (12), tied for fourth in home runs (17), eighth in batting average (.367), eighth in runs scored (93), eighth in stolen bases (26), ninth in doubles (31) and tied for 10th in RBIs (96).
· It was an encouraging sign to see third baseman Hhana Haro heat up last week. She went 6-for-13 with at least one hit in each game while opening up conference play. Haro homered in the first game at Hastings, marking her first of the season and 14th of her career. Like Homolka, Haro ranks highly on the program’s all-time lists. Haro’s 167 career hits rank seventh in school history (most among current players).
· Homolka (.438), Camry Moore (.419) and Kylee Nixon (.403) are each batting better than .400 on the season. Moore and Nixon also possess powerful bats having notched four home runs apiece and having produced slugging percentages north of .700 this season. In the circle, Moore is now 10-1 with a 1.67 ERA with 56 strikeouts and eight walks allowed in 58.2 innings.
· On the NAIA national leaderboard, Concordia ranks 13th in home runs per game (0.9), 15th in runs per game (7.3), 18th in slugging percentage (.524), 42nd in batting average (.328) and 45th in earned run average (2.77).
The opponent
Morningside has been a longtime powerhouse within the GPAC. Head Coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann entered this season with a record of 728-379 in 22 years leading the Mustang softball program. The Mustangs opened up conference play last week with wins over Dakota Wesleyan by scores of 7-1 and 8-2. Morningside boasts a potent trio of hitters in the form of Morgan Nixon (.447 AVG / 11 HR / 43 RBIs), Lexie Stolen (.431 AVG / 11 HR / 32 RBIs) and Ellie Cropley (.416 AVG / 8 HR / 25 RBIs). The team’s top pitchers have been Lisa Bolton (9-0, 1.13 ERA) and Katherine Wurtz (9-1, 1.81 ERA).
Looking ahead
Following Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Bulldogs will wait until Wednesday, April 7 to return to action. They will be at Doane for a 4 p.m. CT doubleheader on that date.