Goncalves, Madsen drive in five apiece in split-salvaging game 2
MITCHELL, S.D. – After struggling to come up with clutch hits in the opening contest of Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader at Dakota Wesleyan, the Concordia University softball team took out its frustrations by piling up a season high 16 runs in game 2. The Bulldogs responded to the 8-2 loss with a 16-6, run-rule shortened thumping of the host Tigers to conclude the day.
Second-year head coach Todd LaVelle’s squad will head into the final day of the regular season in seventh place in the conference standings. Concordia sits at 22-19 overall and 9-9 in league play and could end up seeded anywhere from fifth through eighth at next week’s GPAC tournament.
“In the second game our girls responded,” LaVelle said. “They didn’t want to lose two on the road. We reminded them that our road record is not the best. Our hitting became contagious. Once we started getting some hits, then everyone was hitting up and down the lineup.”
Led by five RBI games by both freshman Jordana Goncalves and senior Molly Madsen, Concordia notched two runs or more in each of the first four frames in game 2. The Bulldogs ignited for six runs in the second and then five more in the third while pounding out 12 hits in the contest. Goncalves and Madsen both went 3-for-4 in the victory.
Concordia racked up nine hits in game 1 but also stranded nine runners on base. The Bulldogs struggled to crack pitcher Lorissa Loeppky, who left the bases loaded in the top of the second inning. Starting pitcher Michaela Woodward put Concordia on the board with an RBI single that scored Julia Tyree (leadoff double) in the third. Another run came across courtesy of an error by the Tiger third baseman.
Dakota Wesleyan (10-34, 5-15 GPAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI double from Hailey Unger and a run-scoring single by Bailey Gummer. The Tigers maintained the lead the rest of the way with Unger (3-for-4, two doubles, four RBIs) supplying a significant portion of the production.
Concordia second baseman Julia Tyree put together another solid twin bill at the plate. She went a combined 3-for-7 with three runs and an RBI out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. She was one of 10 different Bulldogs with at least one hit and one of six with at least one RBI on the day.
Woodward ended up working 9.1 of the 11 innings in the circle for Concordia. She allowed a combined 11 runs (10 earned) on 15 hits and four walks. She struck out 11 and was credited with one win and one loss on Saturday.
The Bulldogs close the regular season on Sunday when they travel to GPAC preseason favorite Morningside (22-17, 10-8 GPAC). After a slow start, the Mustangs have gotten on a roll and own an active eight-game winning streak. First pitch from Sioux City, Iowa, is slated for 2 p.m.
It will be a rematch of last season’s GPAC tournament title clash.
“We can be successful but we have to limit the errors and be into the game right away,” LaVelle said. “It’s important for us to start on top and play in the lead the entire game. Morningside is probably as hot as anyone right now.”