Concordia opens spring break trip with doubleheader split against Webber International

The Concordia University (Neb.) softball team opened its spring break trip with a doubleheader split at Webber International on Saturday, March 10.  The Bulldogs took the first game 1-0 in eight innings, but dropped the second contest 9-1 (6). 

Following Saturday's action Concordia is 3-1 on the season, while Webber International moved to 12-11 overall. 

The opener was another showcase for senior pitcher Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.).  Building upon the perfect game she tossed in the season opener, Sempek allowed just four hits and did not walk a batter in eight innings to move to 3-0 on the season.  Sempek faced just 20 hitters through six innings, but allowed a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh.  With the game on the line, Sempek induced an easy popup to short and a lazy fly ball to center to send the game to an extra frame. 

Held at bay throughout the game by the Warriors' Levy Kiana, the Bulldogs offense leapt at new life in the eighth.  Moving to international tiebreaker rules, the Bulldogs placed sophomore Kelsey Timmerman (O'Neil, Neb.) at second base to begin the inning.  Junior Angela Harstad (Lewiston, Minn.) sent Timmerman to third with a sharp single to center.  The next batter, senior Natalie Svoboda (Lincoln, Neb.), slapped an RBI single up the middle to provide all the offense necessary to claim the 1-0 win.  

In the bottom half of the frame, Sempek induced a pop up and two ground out to preserve the victory.  Sempek improved to 3-0 in the circle this season, recording three strikeouts.

Concordia didn't fare as well in the second game as the Warriors offense notched a single run in the second, three in the third and another in the fourth to build a 5-0 lead.  

The Bulldogs recorded their first hit in the top of the sixth as sophomore Amanda Baldwin (Wilbur, Neb.) blasted a triple to right center.  Svoboda followed with an RBI single to left, but that was all the offense for Concordia.  

Webber International salted away the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game one inning early.

Dana Roloff picked up the win (3-1), allowing one run on two hits and two walks in six innings.  Concordia sophomore Amanda Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) suffered the loss, surrendering nine runs on 15 hits and a walk in 5.2 innings pitched.

The Bulldogs return to the diamond on Monday, March 12 to face Warner College at 12 p.m.