SEWARD, Neb. – After six consecutive games on the road, the Bulldogs returned to home sweet Plum Creek Park to run-rule in-state Doane in both games (9-0 (5 inn.), 12-4 (6 inn.)) on Wednesday (April 22) night. The stars shined bright in the needed two-game series as Kiera Farritor, Mary Beth Hart, Taryn Ganstrom and Kaylei Denison all played monumental roles in the Tiger beatdown. Farritor ended game two in a walk-off, and Ganstrom hit for her first cycle.
Head Coach Brock Culler and the red hot Concordia University, Nebraska Softball team is 21-18 overall and 10-10 in GPAC play.
“It’s good to be home,” Coach Culler said. “I saw a lot of good things from our squad today. Number one, Deni in the circle and our pitching was good. Our defense made some really good plays and got out of some tough innings there. Offensively, just the way our group stayed disciplined at the plate and got after those pitchers. I loved the way we ran bases as well. It all kind of came together tonight. That was good for us and good as far as momentum goes.”
Not many can say they have hit for the cycle in their career. Yet Ganstrom added her name to the exclusive list. The Seneca, Kan., native belted a two-run bomb and stretched out a sliding triple in just the first two innings. A pitcher turned shortstop, Ganstrom barreled a two-run double in the fifth and completed the reverse cycle with an infield single that was legged out just before the game was finished. The third-year transfer, with the triple, reached 100 career hits and has been thrust into the batting lineup virtually two seasons.
“Very exciting,” Ganstrom said. “I’ve never done that before. My team was very supportive. It just made us hyped up and very happy.”
One batter later, Farritor singled through the left side to shut the lights off pushing across the final two runs (Aubrey Wright, Hart). The designated player went 5-for-8 with a home run, one run scored and a team leading six runs batted in.
“We came out confident at the plate and confident in our defense,” Farritor said. “We kept our energy and momentum going throughout the game. Just knowing my role. Trying to move the runners around and doing what I can to help the team out.”
Hart made life difficult for the Tigers going 5-for-8 from the plate with a double while also being a part of nine of the 21 total runs scored in the two games. The freshman out of Lincoln Southwest looked to bury her opposition as she made the opposing team pay with five runs scored and four RBIs. She also added two stolen bases.
Of the 11 innings pitched for Concordia, Denison hurled 9.2 frames allowing seven hits, two runs and a walk. With one of her best outings to date, the Flamethrower totaled six punchouts and shutout (two hits) the second-best hitting team in the conference in game one to earn the win. A Waverly, Neb., native, Denison would also start game two but a swap between her and Kierstyn Linn would give the freshman the second contest victory.
The Bulldogs kept putting relentless pressure on both sides of the ball notching 29 hits and only one error. The many others included in the offensive onslaught were Aubriana Krieser (3-for-5, 2 R), Tobi Topp (3-for-6, 2 RBIs, R), Avery O’Boyle (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI), Grace Maguire (2-for-3), Laycee Josoff (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB), Wright (1-for-2, R, BB), and Grace Zaugg (1-for-2, R).
Concordia (21-18, 10-10 GPAC) will host College of Saint Mary (8-29, 4-16 GPAC) on Saturday. The Bulldogs will celebrate seven seniors in Seward, Neb., in between the two games as the first contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.