SEWARD, Neb. – Originally, the Concordia University softball team had scheduled itself to make its first home appearance back in February. That didn’t happen. Now the Bulldogs are looking to host their long awaited home opener this weekend with Jamestown and Dakota Wesleyan slated to make trips south for doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Head coach Shawn Semler’s squad has not played since sweeping a doubleheader from Doane on March 27.
This Week
Friday, April 5 vs. Jamestown (20-8, 4-2) – DH
3 p.m. | Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Links: Webcast | Stats
Saturday, April 6 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (7-19, 2-4) – DH
1 p.m. | Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Links: Webcast | Stats
Semler certainly hopes the layoff between games will not cool off his squad, which owns an active 12-game win streak (longest for the program since 2008). The team’s hot start was discussed in the Omaha World-Herald this week. It has been nearly a month since Concordia last lost a game – March 4 by a 4-2 score in an eight-inning game against then seventh-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University. Based on the résumé, the Bulldogs appear to be deserving of recognition in the national polls. According to Massey Ratings, Concordia comes in at No. 1 in the GPAC and No. 24 in the entire NAIA. Its biggest claim to fame so far was a win over Valley City State University (N.D.), currently No. 9 in the national coaches’ poll.
Any opposition of the Bulldogs (13-3, 2-0 GPAC) will be tasked with trying to slow down first baseman/shortstop Tori Homolka, now the GPAC Player of the Week two weeks running. Her numbers are especially impressive over the past seven games: 17-for-26 (.654), 12 runs, 13 RBIs, three home runs, six doubles and three stolen bases. Homolka is the conference leader in slugging percentage (.877) and hits per game (1.69). She is the leadoff hitter for a potent top of the lineup that has also featured 2018 first team all-conference center fielder MacKinsey Schmidt, reigning GPAC Player of the Year Hhana Haro and star freshman Camry Moore.
While Homolka has led a productive offense (second in the GPAC in runs per game), Concordia has been balanced across all facets of the game. The Bulldogs also rank No. 1 in the conference in fielding percentage (.967) and third in the GPAC in ERA (2.54). Senior Brittany Woolridge nabbed GPAC Pitcher of the Week accolades after tossing a three-hit shutout last week against Doane. Moore and Woolridge have given the Bulldogs a nice one-two punch at the top of the rotation. It’s unlikely we’ve seen the best of Moore, who was once committed to play at NCAA Division II University of Sioux Falls.
Jamestown is in its first season as a GPAC member. The Jimmies received votes in the most recent NAIA national poll. Head coach Kevin Gall’s team bounced back from being swept in a conference doubleheader by Briar Cliff to take two from College of Saint Mary this past Sunday. Miriah Yoder is hitting a team high .371 for a Jimmies squad that averages 6.75 runs per game. Jamestown went 44-10 and reached the opening round of the NAIA national tournament a year ago.
Dakota Wesleyan has a busy stretch of conference games coming up with action scheduled for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Tigers have struggled to prevent runs having allowed 197 over 163 innings of pitching. Opponents are hitting .390 off of DWU pitching. The Tigers lean heavily upon Sierra Haage at the plate and in the circle. She is hitting .348 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. Dakota Wesleyan’s two league wins have come over Mount Marty and Morningside.
A trio of road twin bills are on the docket for next week. Concordia is scheduled to be at Morningside (April 9), Briar Cliff (April 12) and Mount Marty (April 13).