SEWARD, Neb. – Entering an instrumental weekend, the Concordia Softball team competed against Jamestown on Friday (Apr. 12) in the first of three doubleheaders in four days. The Dawgs offensive prowess caught fire and surged the home squad to a sweep over the Jimmies. Concordia finished a nail-biting game one, 4-3, and then made the visitors pay on the base path with an 11-3 run rule in game two.
CUNE doubles their conference win total to 4-6 and tallies a 14-20 overall showing so far this season. Head Coach Brock Culler raved about the team finally stringing together offense and putting all three phases of the game together.
“It’s just a really good feeling. We were all so relieved that we busted through that wall. We are putting the bat on the ball and putting pressure on defenses. This is exactly how we envisioned ourselves playing early this season. Pitching and defense was good, but what a relief to see us put the bat on the ball today.”
The Bulldog offense swarmed the Jimmies for 15 runs, 17 hits and 12 RBIs in the two contests combined. After a frustrating time of single-hit innings in games past, Concordia broke through and made Jamestown pay using multiple base hits and seven stolen bases, two by Aubrey Bruning and Jennifer Katz.
Bruning (5-for-8) and Julia Van Wey (3-for-6) had a spectacular day at Plum Creek Park. Bruning, the Lincoln Southeast product, totaled three runs, an RBI and two stolen bases, while Van Wey crushed a triple, 3 RBIs, two runs and a stolen base. Voshell finished with three hits (3-for-5), 3 runs and a stolen base.
Bruning said, “It was great to get a sweep over Jamestown. We have been working really hard in the cages and on the field. Being able to go out and put that work on the field has been amazing. We have really been working on offense. For it to show up and get a sweep after it has been a little bit, has been amazing. We were really excited.”
Without senior leader Taylor Glause, the Bulldogs scored three in the fourth inning of game one. The half inning would prove to be the difference as Mo Berner (Glause’s replacement) stepped up big with a sacrifice bunt to score Delanie Voshell. After a Bruning single and a Laycee Josoff walk, Van Wey singled to right field bringing in the final two across home plate.
In game two, the fourth inning was a seven run party for Concordia as the four hits came from Katz, Voshell, Bruning and Aubriana Krieser. Mistakes were made in the form of walks and an error by Jamestown and the Bulldogs took full advantage in the eventual run rule outing.
Other players with multiple hits were Krieser and Katz.
The Jimmies fall to 22-11 overall and 6-6 in the GPAC. Jamestown’s four game win streak was snapped by the Dawgs and it will not get easier as they face Midland tomorrow in Fremont. The visitors were led by Trinity Gregg going 3-for-6 and collecting one run. Hope Ransom pitched game one allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and throwing three strikeouts.
Concordia (14-20, 4-6 GPAC) will face off against Dakota Wesleyan (13-22, 2-10 GPAC) in less than 24 hours in Seward, Neb. Three seniors will be celebrated at Plum Creek Park directly after game one of the doubleheader versus the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.