WICHITA, Kan. – The Bulldogs traveled to the Friends University Invitational and are set to face four different teams in two days. Concordia got the best of Missouri Valley College in a high scoring affair, going yard three times in an 11-9 triumph over the Vikings. In game two, the blue and white made a push in the sixth inning, but fell to the University of Saint Mary, 5-8, in the final game of the day. Taylor Glause had a three-hit and one RBI, while Zoe Isom collected two hits, four RBIs and one home run in game one.
After a split but offensively productive day, the Bulldogs move to 3-9 on the season. Head Coach Brock Culler commented on his team’s play and how big the team stepped up.
“We swung the bats really well today. Our team played hard and with passion, which was the number one thing we challenged them with this whole week. We had 3 big calls not go our way in game two and they were huge inning killers. Even with that, our team moved on and got right back after it. I told them that I am proud of the way the competed and can't wait to get back on the dirt tomorrow!”
After a disappointing scoreless first frame, Concordia erupted for nine runs, seven hits and two home runs in the second against Missouri Valley. Kylie Shottenkirk got the Dawgs started with a two-RBI single. Glause followed with an RBI double and Isom crushed a two RBI single, all in consecutive hits of each other. If things couldn’t get worse for the Vikings, Julia Van Wey and Jennifer Katz hit two-run bombs out of the yard. Isom would smash the game winning home run in the third, sending herself and Glause across home plate.
Julia Van Wey grabbed three hits, one home run and two RBIs on her day in Kansas. Kaylei Denison came in relief in the pitchers’ circle and had a stellar performance, silencing the Vikings and only allowed one hit in 10 batters.
Down 8-2 to the USM, the Bulldogs ripped off a three-run sixth inning by way of a two-bagger by Katz, producing two runs batted in with Shottenkirk and Van Wey. Katz followed across home plate after a foul out in left field. Concordia was unable to get more runs and make the Spires sweat in the final inning.
Others with multiple hits were Laycee Josoff (3), Hanna Bowers (2), Delanie Voshell (2) and Aubrey Bruning (2).
Concordia (3-9) will stay in Kansas for day two of the Friends University invite and is scheduled to face Park University (Mo.) and Sterling College (Kan.) on Saturday. These will be the last two games before taking its talents to Tucson, Ariz. for the Tucson Invitational from Mar. 5-8. The Bulldogs have eight games scheduled at the invite.