SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia softball team will kick off its conference schedule next week. The Bulldogs will be traveling to Northwestern College on Monday, March 28 for a double header. Concordia received votes in the national poll release last Tuesday.
GAME INFO
Concordia University (13-4) at Northwestern College (9-10)
Monday, March 28 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Site: Orange City, Iowa
Webcast: Stretch Internet
Last time out
The Concordia softball team faced Bethany College in its only competition last week. The Bulldogs and Swedes split the day with Concordia taking the first game 6-4 and Bethany taking the second 4-2. Junior Kylie Harpst smacked a game-winning triple to score two runs in the first tilt.
GPAC grade
As of March 24, the Bulldogs are sitting fourth in the conference behind Dordt, Hastings and Morningside. In the GPAC the squad leads in batting average (.375), slugging percentage (.528), triples per game (0.53) and total triples (9), ranks second in fielding percentage (.957), runs scored per game (7.76), hits per game (10.47) and RBI per game (6.53), ranks third in fewest hits allowed (121), fewest runs allowed (56), doubles per game (1.82) and at bats per game (27.94) and is tied for steal attempts per game (2.12). Below is a list of individual top-10 rankings in the league.
Kylie Harpst – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); innings pitched per game, ninth (5.41); fewest hits allowed per game, ninth (6.62); fewest total runs allowed, 10th (20); wins, tied for third (7); batting average, fourth (.466); runs scored per game, fourth (1.12); hits per game, second (1.59); total hits, eighth (27); RBI per game, eighth (1.06); triples per game, tied for fifth (0.12); total triples, tied for fifth (2); total bases per game, eighth (2.18); stolen bases per game, tied for sixth (0.35); total stolen bases, tied for eighth (6); steal attempts per game, tied for ninth (0.41); total steal attempts, tied for ninth (7); at bats per game, fifth (3.41); on base percentage, seventh (.484
Taylor Huff – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); slugging percentage, ninth (.679); RBI per game, tied for fourth (1.18); total RBI, tied for ninth (20); doubles per game, first (0.47); total doubles, tied for third (8); triples per game, tied for fifth (0.12); total triples, tied for fifth (2); total bases per game, 10th (2.12)
Leah Kalkwarf – stolen bases per game, tied for fourth (0.41); total stolen bases, tied for fifth (7); steal attempts per game, third (0.53); total steal attempts, tied for third (9)
Brianne Liebelt – total triples, tied for 10th (1)
Diana Mendoza – runs scored per game, tied for 10th (0.94); hits per game, ninth (1.35); stolen bases per game, tied for sixth (0.35); total stolen bases, tied for eighth (6); steal attempts per game, tied for fourth (0.47); total steal attempts, tied for fifth (8); at bats per game, 10th (3.24); on base percentage, 10th (.475
Autumn Owens – batting average, eighth (.431); slugging percentage, fifth (.765); RBI per game, tied for fourth (1.18); total RBI, tied for ninth (20); home runs per game, third (0.24); total home runs, tied for fourth (4); total bases per game, sixth (2.29); total bases, 10th (39)
Megan Ruppert – triples per game, tied for fifth (0.12); total triples, tied for fifth (2)
Julia Tyree – chances per game, sixth (5.88); total chances, 10th (100); putouts per game, sixth (5.41); total putouts, eighth (92); runs scored per game, tied for 10th (0.94)
Michaela Woodward – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); wins, tied for seventh (6); doubles per game, seventh (0.35); total doubles, tied for ninth (6); total triples, tied for 10th (1)
Off on the right foot
This season the Bulldogs are off to a 13-4 start. The record is the second best mark through 17 games in at least 12 seasons. In 2014, Concordia started 14-3 and made it to the NAIA Championship. The 13-4 record is also one of five winning records in the last 12 years to this point.
National rankings
The Concordia softball team received votes in the national poll release on Tuesday. The squad ranks in the top 50 in 15 different statistical categories including fifth in triples per game (.529), fifth in runs scored per game (7.76), sixth in batting average (.375), eighth in slugging percentage (.528) and ninth in hits per game (10.47). Below is a list of individual top-30 rankings in the nation.
Kylie Harpst – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); runs scored per game, 25th (1.12); hits per game, 26th (1.56)
Taylor Huff – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); doubles per game, 24th (.471); RBI per game, tied for 28th (1.17)
Autumn Owens – RBI per game, tied for 28th (1.17)
Michaela Woodward – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00)
Quotable
“We played solid defense. In that second game we just couldn’t get anything going and were swinging at some bad pitches. We left some pitches up and they took advantage. It was a small ballpark. They’re used to it. I think that was part of our impatience. We were trying to hit home runs instead of doing our job.”
-Head coach Todd LaVelle
Scouting the opponent
Northwestern College Red Raiders
The Red Raiders hold a 9-10 record so far this season. Northwestern has won three straight games after defeating Presentation in a double header earlier this week. As a team, the Raiders have a batting average of .282 and an on base percentage of .325. The Northwestern pitching crew’s ERA is 3.90 through 116.2 innings pitched. They have struck out 60 total batters and have an opposing batter’s average of .284. The Red Raiders are led by head coach Chris Nachtigall who is in his fifth season at Northwestern. Nachtigall is assisted by Anita Smith, Lindsey Remien and Tracy Jacobsma.