SEWARD, Neb. – After opening conference play earlier this week, the Concordia softball team will split the remaining contests this week. The Bulldogs will travel to Doane on Wednesday and host Briar Cliff this Saturday.
GAME INFO
Concordia University (14-5, 1-1 GPAC) at Doane College (11-6, 0-0 GPAC)
Wednesday, March 30 | 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Site: Jose M. and Elizabeth Ledon Softball and Baseball Complex | Crete, Neb.
Webcast: Live Stream
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
GAME INFO
Briar Cliff University (9-11, 0-0 GPAC) at Concordia University (14-5, 1-1 GPAC)
Saturday, April 2 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Site: Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Last time out
The Concordia softball team split a double header with Northwestern on Monday. The Red Raiders took the first game, 4-3 in eight innings. The second section of the twin bill went in favor of the Bulldogs, 7-2.
GPAC grade
As of March 29, the Bulldogs are sitting second in the conference behind Dordt. In the GPAC the squad leads in batting average (.367), slugging percentage (.521), hits per game (10.37), triples per game (0.53) and total triples (10), ranks second in fielding percentage (.962), runs scored per game (7.47), RBI per game (6.37) and at bats per game (28.26) and ranks third in fewest runs allowed (62) and doubles per game (1.74). 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, 10th (5.18); fewest hits allowed per game, ninth (6.63); wins, tied for second (8); batting average, fifth (.455); runs scored per game, fourth (1.05); total runs scored, tied for 10th (20); hits per game, third (1.53); total hits, tied for seventh (29); RBI per game, tied for ninth (1.00); triples per game, tied for eighth (0.10); total triples, tied for sixth (2); total bases per game, tied for seventh (2.21); total bases, tied for 10th (42); stolen bases per game, tied for eighth (0.32); total stolen bases, tied for ninth (6); steal attempts per game, tied for 10th (0.37); total steal attempts, tied for ninth (7); at bats per game, fifth (3.37); on base percentage, 10th (.471)
Taylor Huff – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); slugging percentage, eighth (.689); RBI per game, second (1.21); total RBI, tied for sixth (23); doubles per game, first (0.42); total doubles, tied for fourth (8); triples per game, tied for eighth (0.10); total triples, tied for sixth (2); total bases per game, tied for seventh (2.12); total bases, tied for 10th (42)
Leah Kalkwarf – stolen bases per game, fifth (0.37); total stolen bases, tied for fifth (7); steal attempts per game, third (0.47); total steal attempts, tied for third (9)
Diana Mendoza – stolen bases per game, tied for eighth (0.32); total stolen bases, tied for ninth (6); steal attempts per game, sixth (0.42); total steal attempts, tied for fifth (8)
Autumn Owens – slugging percentage, ninth (.678); RBI per game, fourth (1.16); total RBI, tied for eighth (22); home runs per game, fifth (0.21); total home runs, tied for fifth (4); total bases per game, ninth (2.10);
Megan Ruppert – triples per game, first (0.16); total triples, tied for first (1)
Julia Tyree – chances per game, sixth (5.90); total chances, ninth (112); putouts per game, sixth (5.42); total putouts, seventh (103)
Michaela Woodward – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); innings pitched, eighth (60.2); wins, tied for ninth (6); doubles per game, 10th (0.32)
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 58 total chances. Julia Tyree leads the entire team in chances with 112 and has a 97.3 fielding percentage with just three errors. No member of the team has committed more than five errors through 19 contests.
National rankings
The Concordia softball team received votes in the national poll release on Tuesday, March 22. The squad ranks in the top 40 in 14 different statistical categories including seventh in trples per game (.53), ninth in batting average (.367) and 10th in slugging percentage (.521) and in hits per game (10.37). Below is a list of individual top-30 rankings in the nation.
Kylie Harpst – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00)
Taylor Huff – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00); RBI per game, 22nd (1.21); doubles per game, 28th (.42)
Autumn Owens – RBI per game, 30th (1.16)
Megan Ruppert – triples per game, 16th (.16); total triples, 25th (3)
Michaela Woodward – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00)
Quotable
“The big thing we told the girls between games was not to dwell on the result, but look at the process. We battled (in game 1) and that’s what we expected them to do in the second game. We came out like gangbusters and got two runs. Then in the last inning we were able to string some hits together. Every time you come up to Northwestern, it’s just tougher.”
-Head coach Todd LaVelle
Scouting the opponents
Doane College Tigers
The Done Tigers are currently 11-6 on the season. In recent action, Doane defeated No. 22 Bellevue University, 8-3 and 6-3 in a double header on March 22. The Tigers have a team batting average of .283 and an on base percentage of .347. Leading the squad in batting percentage is Nicole Fernandez with a .351 mark (with at least 40 at bats). Fernandez has scored 14 runs on 20 hits over the season and holds a team-leading 31 total bases. The pitching crew has an overall ERA of 2.56 and has struck out 80 batters while walking 20. The Tigers are led by head coach Renae Littrell who is in her fourth season at Doane. Littrell is assisted by Jordan Olson, Gabby Banda, Brad Horky and Carling Bloedorn.
Briar Cliff University Chargers
The Briar Cliff Chargers hold a 9-11 mark this year. The Chargers will travel to Dakota Wesleyan on Tuesday before coming to Seward this weekend. Briar Cliff has won four straight contests including 4-3 and 5-4 wins over Waldorf College last week. The team has a batting average of .304 and an on base percentage of .416. With 60 at bats, Ashley Del alto has a .350 batting average and a team leading 21 hits. With a team ERA of 5.70, the Charger pitching crew has struck out 52 batters and walked 64. The Chargers are led by head coach Michelle Schaper who is in her eighth season at Briar Cliff. Schaper is assisted by Alison Wickwire and Deanna Ayala.