SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia softball team has a busy schedule this upcoming week. The Bulldogs will compete in five double-headers in six days starting with a home conference match-up against Hastings. The team will host Grace on Thursday and be on the road for the remaining three tilts.
GAME INFO
Hastings College (23-11, 0-4 GPAC) at Concordia University (18-7, 3-3 GPAC)
Tuesday, April 5 | 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Site: Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
GAME INFO
Concordia University (18-7, 3-3 GPAC) at Peru State College (9-23, 2-8 HAAC)
Wednesday, April 6 | 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Site: Centennial Complex | Peru, Neb.
Webcast: Live Stream
Live Stats: Dakstats
GAME INFO
Grace University (3-32) at Concordia University (18-7, 3-3 GPAC)
Thursday, April 7 | 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Site: Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
GAME INFO
Concordia University (18-7, 3-3 GPAC) at No. 15 Morningside College (23-5, 4-0 GPAC)
Saturday, April 9 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Site: Jensen Complex | Sioux City, Iowa
Live Stats: Stat Crew
GAME INFO
Concordia University (18-7, 3-3 GPAC) at No. 20 Grand View University (24-6, 8-2 HAAC)
Sunday, April 10 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Site: Luhrs Athletic Complex | Des Moines, Iowa
Webcast: Stretch Internet
Last time out
In its home opener, the Concordia softball team split with Briar Cliff University, winning 5-4 (9 inn.) and losing 6-3. Michaela Woodward knocked a walk-off single up the middle to score Maddie Fousek for the extra innings win.
GPAC grade
As a team in the conference the Bulldogs lead in batting average (.343), slugging percentage (.486), triples per game (0.48) and total triples (11), rank second in fielding percentage (.962) and hits per game (9.83) and rank third in fewest runs allowed (77), runs scored per game (6.78), runs batted in per game (5.83), total stolen bases (39), steal attempts per game (2.17) and at bats per game (28.61). Below is a list of individual top-10 rankings in the league.
Kylie Harpst – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); wins, tied for third (9); batting average, 10th (.405); runs scored per game, sixth (0.96); hits per game, fifth (1.39); total hits, tied for 10th (32); triples per game, tied for second (0.13); total triples, tied for second (3); total bases per game, tied for eighth (2.09); stolen bases per game, tied for eighth (0.30); total stolen bases, tied for 10th (7); steal attempts per game, eighth (0.35); total steal attempts, tied for ninth (8); at bats per game, third (3.44)
Taylor Huff – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); slugging percentage, sixth (.653); hits per game, tied for 10th (1.26); RBI per game, tied for second (1.09); total RBI, tied for seventh (25); doubles per game, third (0.44); total doubles, tied for fourth (10); triples per game, 10th (0.09); total triples, tied for seventh (2); total bases per game, sixth (2.13)
Leah Kalkwarf – stolen bases per game, fifth (0.35); total stolen bases, tied for sixth (8); steal attempts per game, fourth (0.48); total steal attempts, tied for third (11)
Diana Mendoza – stolen bases per game, tied for eighth (0.30); total stolen bases, tied for 10th (7); steal attempts per game, sixth (0.39); total steal attempts, tied for sixth (9)
Autumn Owens – slugging percentage, eighth (.649); hits per game, tied for 10th (1.26); RBI per game, tied for second (1.09); total RBI, tied for seventh (25); home runs per game, ninth (0.17); total home runs, tied for seventh (4); total bases per game, tied for eighth (2.09)
Megan Ruppert – triples per game, tied for second (0.13); total triples, tied for second (3)
Julia Tyree – chances per game, seventh (5.87); total chances, ninth (135); putouts per game, sixth (5.39); total putouts, ninth (124)
Michaela Woodward – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); innings pitched per game, ninth (5.43); innings pitched, tied for seventh (76.0); wins, tied for ninth (7)
Fielding with ease
The Bulldogs have a team has a conference second-best 96.2 fielding percentage. Six ‘Dogs have a perfect mark in the category. Catcher Taylor Huff is atop the 100 percent club with 66 total chances. Julia Tyree leads the entire team in chances with 135 and has a 97.0 fielding percentage with just three errors. No member of the team has committed more than seven errors through 23 contests.
National rankings
The Concordia softball team received votes in the national poll release on Tuesday, March 29. The squad ranks in the top 35 in 14 different statistical categories including ninth in triples per game (0.48), 15th in at bats per game (28.61), 17th in fielding percentage (.962) and 18th in hits per game (9.83). Below is a list of individual top-30 rankings in the nation.
Kylie Harpst – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); triples per game, tied for 29th (0.13)
Taylor Huff – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); doubles per game, 20th (0.44)
Megan Ruppert – triples per game, tied for 29th (0.13)
Michaela Woodward – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00)
Quotable
“With us being in a lot of close games this year I think the girls had the confidence to get that one done. We were probably lucky in some aspects to get that win.”
-Head coach Todd LaVelle
Scouting the opponents
Hastings College Broncos
The Broncos of Hastings College are 23-11 overall and 0-4 in the GPAC. The team has a batting average of .336 and a 38.8 on base percentage. The Broncos are led by head coach Troy Baker who is in his 10th season at Hastings. Baker is assisted by Chelsey Jacobitz.
Peru State College Bobcats
The Bobcats of Peru State College hold a 9-23, 2-8 HAAC record as of Monday, April 4. The squad has a batting average of .234 and an on base mark of 27.5 percent. The Bobcats are led by head coach Mark Mathews who is in his 22nd season at Peru State. Mathews is assisted by Trista Hutchings and Jessica Norton.
Grace University Royals
As of Monday, April 4, the Grace University Royals own a 3-32 record. The team has a batting average of .253 and on base percentage of 33.2. The Royals are led by head coach Kathleen Brown who is her first year at Grace. Brown is assisted by Allison Wild and Tabitha Foster.
No. 15 Morningside College Mustangs
The Mustangs of Morningside College are currently 23-5, 4-0 GPAC this year. The squad owns a .324 batting average and on base rate of 40.8 percent. The Mustangs are led by head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann who is in her 18th year at Morningside. Jones-Sitzmann is assisted by Mackenzie Neely, Jacey Tomhave, Allyssa Stevens, Calena Topete and Alexis Van Houten.
No. 20 Grand View University Vikings
The Vikings of Grand View University are currently 24-6, 8-2 HAAC this year. The team owns a .319 batting average and a 37.9 on base percentage. The Vikings are led by head coach Lou A. Yacinich who is in his 14th season at Grand View. Yacinich is assisted by Destiny Willer, Todd Merical and Lou Ruzzuti.
Up next
The Concordia softball team will slow things down next week and compete in two double-headers. The ‘Dogs will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan on April 13 and host Dakota Wesleyan on April 16.