SEWARD, Neb. – The Dawgs returned for their home opener after playing on the road for over a month. Home sweet home it was, as the Concordia Softball team took both games (1-0, 11-6) against Peru State College in two very different styles of play. Megan Eurich continued to show off her ace arm, with a shutout in 8 innings and 13 strikeouts. Kylie Shottenkirk claimed her 100th hit on her home field in Plum Creek Ball Park.
The Bulldogs reach double digit wins with a 10-14 overall record and will now enter the gauntlet of conference play. Head Coach Brock Culler commented on the flow of game one and standouts during the day.
“There was a lot going on in those two games. Obviously, Megan was outstanding. She had all of her pitches working again and it's so easy to call those for her. Offensively, I know we scored one run, and I told coaches in the fifth inning that we just needed to find one, because of the way she was pitching. I thought we swung the bats well, but the wind was so bad. It was great to get the win and then Aubriana Krieser came up with that double was big. She has been in a little bit of a rut but nobody in the dugout doubts that she is gifted offensively. Taryn is getting to where she has three pitches working really well and it's good because we are going to need her in conference play.”
Eurich, in familiar territory, made herself known to the Bobcats, striking out the first six batters that came to the plate. The Gretna, Neb., native struck out three batters in the final inning to give the home team the nod to win the pitchers' dual. She finished just shy of a no-hitter (2 H) and only gave up one base on balls.
Still scoreless in the 8th, Aubriana Krieser doubled to right field as Deleesi Bartling became the pinch runner. Delanie Voshell popped a single and pushed the runner to third for the game winning run. Bartling, out of Lincoln, Neb., took a chance on an error by the visiting pitcher and crossed the plate for the game winner.
In game two, the Bulldogs exploded in the 2nd, scoring six runs with two outs in the bank for the visitors. Concordia claimed five hits and put the eventual winning run on the board. Julia Van Wey had one of her three hits and a stolen base in the inning. Aubrey Bruning used her sonic speed to be a menace on the bases, stealing five as Jennifer Katz and her scored three runs apiece. Bruning finished with three hits in two games.
Earning her first win in the pitcher’s circle was Taryn Ganstrom as she came in relief for 3.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits. The second game brought multiple hit days for Kylie Shottenkirk (3 H, 3 RBIs, 1 R), Taylor Glause (2 H, 1 RBI, 2 R) and Voshell (2 H).
Concordia (10-14) will face No. 12 Midland (21-4) in both teams' GPAC openers on Wednesday (Mar. 20). The Bulldogs will take the first pitch at 5 p.m. CT in Fremont, Neb. for the doubleheader.