SEWARD, Neb. – After a hiatus of more than three weeks, the Concordia University softball team will return to action at the 2016 Tucson Invitational. The Bulldogs will play a total of 10 games between the dates of March 6 and 11 (full schedule at bottom). All 10 contests can be heard live via the Concordia Sports Network. Mike Meyer will call the play-by-play.
Concordia is off to a 3-2 start in its third season under head coach Todd LaVelle. The Bulldogs opened the 2016 campaign with five games at the Cowtown Classic (Feb. 12-13) in Fort Worth, Texas. Concordia earned wins over Bethel College (Kan.), Baker University (Kan.) and William Penn University (Iowa). Kylie Harpst led the team with six hits in 14 at bats. Third baseman Autumn Owens collected a home run and five RBIs while in The Lone Star State.
Concordia is 16-6 when playing in the state of Arizona under LaVelle. In 2014 it broke a school record for longest unbeaten streak to begin a year by winning each of its first nine games, all in its season-opening stay in Tucson. Solid work in Arizona has set the tone for trips to the national tournament in each of LaVelle’s first two seasons at the helm of the program. Picked to finish fifth in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, Concordia played Morningside in the conference finals in 2014 and 2015 with the Bulldogs coming out on top in the most recent tournament title.
Concordia is scheduled to make its first home appearance on Saturday, April 2 when Briar Cliff visits Plum Creek Park for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
For more information on the 2016 Tucson Invitational, visit the event’s home page HERE.
2016 Tucson Invitational Schedule
- Sun., March 6 vs. Aquinas, 6 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. CT (Field 6)
- Sun., March 6 vs. Michigan-Dearborn, 8 p.m. MT / 9 p.m. CT (Field 6)
- Mon., March 7 vs. Siena Heights, 11:30 a.m. MT / 12:30 p.m. CT (Field 3)
- Mon., March 7 vs. Great Falls, 2 p.m. MT / 3 p.m. CT (Field 2)
- Mon., March 7 vs. Ashford, 6:30 p.m. MT / 7:30 p.m. CT (Field 4)
- Wed., March 9 vs. Purdue-North Central, 1:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. CT (Field 1)
- Wed., March 9 vs. St. Francis (Ill.), 3:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. CT (Field 1)
- Fri., March 11 vs. Cardinal Stritch, 9 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. CT (Field 7)
- Fri., March 11 vs. William Penn, 11 a.m. MT / 12 p.m. CT (Field 6)
- Fri., March 11 vs. Olivet Nazarene, 3:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. CT (Field 7)
Tucson Invitational Location
Lincoln Park - North (Fields 5,6,7,8)
8100 E. Escalante Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85730-4014
Lincoln Park - South (Fields 1,2,3,4)
4326 S. Pantano Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85730-4014