SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Softball will play out its final three contests of the scheduled slate, starting with Bellevue University on Wednesday (April 23). The Bulldogs will hit the road for a doubleheader against in-state foe College of Saint Mary this weekend. CUNE (25-17, 10-10 GPAC) honored eight seniors this past Saturday and the team split wins between Dordt and Mount Marty.
Wednesday, April 23 vs. Bellevue (25-17), 6 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, April 26 vs. College of Saint Mary (9-28, 7-13 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: (Omaha, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs split with Dordt but tied their game high in runs scored (13) in the second contest (13-2). In the first 13-point performance on Feb. 2, Concordia defeated Culver-Stockton College (Mo.), 13-2 (5 inn.), at the Dordt Dome. CUNE splashed for eight runs on seven hits in the fourth frame that included knocks by Avery O’Boyle, Delanie Voshell, Aubriana Krieser, Grace Maguire, Laycee Josoff, Aubrey Bruning and Taryn Ganstrom. The Seneca, Kan., native hit two triples (four RBIs) in the doubleheader and a 1.143 slugging percentage in the two games. Bruning went 3-for-4 against the Defenders and tacked on three runs, an RBI, a stolen base and two walks. Kaylei Denison gathered the win with a five-inning complete game allowing three runs and punching out six. In game one, Dordt got ahead early (8-2), and the Bulldogs came back with four runs in the last two frames but fell short (9-6).
· One run made the difference in both contests against Mount Marty as the Lancers took game one (2-1) and fell to the Bulldogs in game two (4-3). Voshell led the seniors, going 2-4 with a double, triple, two RBIs, a run and a walk. Ganstrom went 3-for-4 in game two and O’Boyle (2-for-6) drove the utility player in for the eventual game winner in the second contest. Both pitchers hurled seven innings, and Megan Eurich gave up only two runs and zero walks in the six-punch-out performance. Denison added to her win total, with six strikeouts and three walks. The eight seniors honored were Hanna Bowers, Aubrey Bruning, Megan Eurich, Zoe Isom, Jennifer Katz, Kylie Shottenkirk, Bethany Thomas and Delanie Voshell.
· In the season’s numbers at the plate, Bulldogs such as Katz (.370), Ganstrom (.363), Bruning (.344), O’Boyle (.319) and Voshell (.313) are at the top for hitting percentage. Ganstrom (49) and Katz (44) are closing in on 50 hits in 2025. Katz has a .639 team leading slugging percentage and Ganstrom follows (.548). Aubriana Krieser (14) has taken the baton for most doubles (14) with Kylie Shottenkirk (12), Katz (12) and Hanna Bowers (11) all reaching double digits. Bowers (27) has been in front in runs batted in for the majority of the season, but Katz (26) and Ganstrom (22) are nipping at her heels. Josoff (15), Shottenkirk (14) and Ganstrom (13) have the most base on balls for the Seward side.
· Three Concordia pitchers have similar ERAs, including Ganstrom (3.10), Denison (3.20) and Eurich (3.30). Denison is the lone Bulldog with wins in double figures (11) as Eurich isn’t far behind (eight). Eurich is at the top in innings pitched (121.0), complete games (15), saves (four), shutouts (four) and strikeouts (121). The team averages a 3.22 ERA allowing 125 earned runs in 42 games.
· With her second three-bagger versus Dordt, Ganstrom has tied for the single-season record (eight) knotting Stephanie Hinrichs (1982) and Celine Lassaigne (2003). This week she surpassed Mindy Evans Miller’s (1996) seven and three others with six. The Nemaha Central product is fifth in the NAIA in triples and tied for third all-time with nine. The team is first in the conference (24) via Katz, having hit four this season (seven career) and Bruning three. The Bulldogs have tagged 84 doubles (2nd in GPAC).
· On the base paths, four Bulldogs have reached double figures in stolen bases: Bruning (14), Ganstrom (14), Katz (12) and Laycee Josoff (10). Bruning has amassed 51 base swipes in her career moving up to No. 3 in all-time Concordia Softball history over Stacey Miller (1997-98). No. 2 Nicole Baker (2008-11) has 62 steals for the Bulldogs. In runs scored, the leaders are Ganstrom (34), Katz (29), Bowers (21), Bruning (17), Voshell (17) and Josoff (15).
· Northwestern (15-1) currently stands as the top team in the GPAC but will face off against Midland (14-2) in the coming days for a possible winner-take-all in the GPAC standings. The Mustangs (14-4) sit in third behind the Warriors and have a slim lead over Dakota Wesleyan (13-7). Mount Marty (10-8), Concordia (10-10) and Doane (8-10) are closely knit in the middle of the conference table. Hastings (7-11), Dordt (7-11) and College of Saint Mary are all in the fight for the final spot in the GPAC tournament and a slot in postseason play. Briar Cliff (2-16) and Waldorf (1-15) are officially knocked out of tournament games.
Opponents
Bellevue, with the same overall record as the Dawgs (25-17), split games with their most recent opponent, the University of Jamestown, winning the first (2-0) and last (5-0) in a four-game series. The Bruins and Concordia met twice earlier in the season at the ASB Sports complex in February, as the teams split the two contests. Bellevue won the first game in a shutout (6-0) and the Bulldogs mashed in nine runs (9-6) in game two. Thirty-five games later, the Bruins will meet again and are sure to rely on Katie Cunningham, having pitched 121.2 innings so far this season. With a record of 12-7, Cunningham has allowed 130 hits and 42 earned runs, while striking out 98 batters. Freshman Infielder Kaitlyn Fisher has been a welcomed surprise to the lineup with a team-leading .467 batting average and a .733 slugging percentage. Cunningham follows with a .386 hitting percentage (six home runs) and Breanne McMurtry with a .661 slugging percentage (nine home runs).
College of Saint Mary moved to a 7-13 conference record (9-28 overall) after dropping new conference member Waldorf twice with an 11-3 and 3-1 sweep. The two teams have split between each other (2-2) in Coach Culler’s tenure, but one will have a chance to go ahead in the twin bill. Scoring 4.2 runs per contest, the Flames hit a team average of .284 and an on-base percentage of .345. Their home run leaders are Ella Watts (seven) and Amber Kosmicki (six) as the team has mashed 17 in the season. Watts, a sophomore out of Yutan High, has a .351 batting average and a team-high .658 slugging average. Freshman Maria Perez has cracked a .358 team-topping hit percentage (.483 on-base).
Up next
Concordia will look to the GPAC tournament next week, set to be from April 30-May 3. The eight teams will split into two pods based on seeding and be held at the top two seeds' home venues. The Bulldogs, with two conference games remaining, are currently in sixth place.