SEWARD, Neb. – Rainy conditions wiped out both of last week’s scheduled nonconference doubleheaders for the Concordia University Softball team. Now the Bulldogs hope that wet weather to begin this week won’t impact this week’s scheduled opening of the GPAC season. Concordia is getting ready to host Hastings on Wednesday night and Northwestern on Saturday afternoon. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad last played on March 11.
This Week
Concordia (14-2, 0-0) vs. Hastings (8-11, 0-0)
Wednesday, March 24 | 5 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Concordia (14-2, 0-0) vs. Northwestern (14-6, 1-1)
Saturday, March 27 | 1 p.m. DH
Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Mike Meyer
Fan policy: Fan attendance will not be limited at Plum Creek Park. However, fans encouraged to wear masks and to distance themselves from other family groups. Admission can be purchased on site on game days.
By the numbers
· Five Concordia regulars are batting .350 or better: Tori Homolka (.423), Camry Moore (.420), Kylee Nixon (.382), Jenessa Jarvis (.367) and Caitlyn McGarvie (.362). Three of those Bulldogs have produced three or more home runs: Moore (four), Homolka (three) and Nixon (three). Moore is slugging .840 while Homolka (.769) and Nixon (.727) are both slugging better than .700.
· In the circle, Moore sports an 8-1 record with a 1.65 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. Moore owns a 15-2 record in her last 17 decisions. Semler has used five different pitchers this season, including Ashley Evans (1.1 IP), Zoe Flores (8.2 IP), Jerzi Rowe (31.1 IP) and Brooke Townsend (12 IP).
· On the NAIA national leaderboard, Concordia ranks 13th in runs per game (7.6), 15th in doubles per game (2.1), 17th in home runs per game (0.8), 18th in slugging percentage (.520), 40th in ERA (2.59), 44th in fielding percentage (.961), 46th in hits per game (8.9) and 50th in batting average (.322).
· The offense has been potent while two-time first team All-GPAC performer Hhana Haro begins to heat up at the plate. The numbers figure to trend positively for Haro, who owns a career .440 batting average with 35 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 93 RBIs in 109 games. Haro was named the GPAC Player of the Year as a freshman in 2018 when she batted .494.
In the rankings
In the latest official GPAC poll (released on Monday), the Bulldogs remained at No. 2 behind Morningside. A new NAIA national coaches’ poll will be unveiled on Wednesday. Concordia has a strong case for being included in the top 25, considering its 14-2 record and signature victory over fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University. In the Massey Ratings, Concordia is rated as the No. 15 team in the NAIA.
The opponents
In the GPAC preseason poll, Northwestern was rated fifth while Hastings landed at No. 11. The Red Raiders have jumped out to a strong 14-6 start (same record during the 2020 season) and split a doubleheader with Jamestown over the weekend. Northwestern employs a strong 1-2 pitching combo in Kameryn Etherington and Samantha Ubben and has three hitters with averages above .400: Jennifer Boeve (.426), Emily Bosch (.417) and Jessica Mouw (.404).
Hastings will open the conference season on Wednesday along with the Bulldogs. Alyssa Carter is hitting .406 with 11 doubles while Mattie Hogrefe paces the Broncos with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Hastings has also had a layoff having last played on March 12 when it defeated Cottey College (Mo.) and lost to Dickinson State University (N.D.) – both in extra innings. The Broncos went 5-12 during the shortened 2020 season.