SEWARD, Neb. – Many runs and big hits would describe both teams play in the doubleheader on senior day (Apr. 13). Concordia softball would best Dakota Wesleyan in both games (12-11 (10 inn.), 8-5) but the Dawgs needed nine runs in the last two innings of regulation (game one) to go to extras. Three seniors were celebrated at the series sweep including Taylor Glause, Creighton Taylor and Julia Van Wey.
Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad swept two series in a row for a 6-6 GPAC showing and 16-20 overall. The Bulldogs are 7-1 at home this campaign. Coach Culler commented on pushing through in a tough but unclean games against the visitors.
“This wasn’t clean softball or our brand of softball. It was frustrating but I also saw our kids competing hard. I just knew if we could string together a couple of hits, we would get it going. I tell you what, Dakota Wesleyan, they made us really work today. They are very good offensively and swung the bat well. I’m just really proud of our team the last two days. The enthusiasm and energy-its tough to do that on a quick turnaround.”
Down 8-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Concordia came alive with three straight singles by Delanie Voshell, Jennifer Katz and Kylie Shottenkirk, that would eventually score four in the inning. After a three run response in the seventh, the Bulldogs needed all five the runs they produced to send the game to extras. The home team took one piece at a time with all five hits resulting in singles, as Katz would run across the plate for the tying run.
With two scoreless frames for both teams, the Bulldogs finally had a one-two-three inning in the top of the 10th by Megan Eurich. Only needing to get the placed runner at second to home, Madison Cushing put the bat on the ball, making the second baseman dive, giving Shottenkirk enough time to cross the plate for the comeback win.
Tied 3-3 in the 5th in game two, Aubriana Krieser and Deleesi Bartling smoked two-RBI singles and pushed the game out of reach for the visiting Tigers. Megan Eurich was instrumental in the second win, pitching six innings, five strikeouts and four earned runs against the potent offense of Dakota Wesleyan.
Krieser was a force in the batters box scoring four hits (4-for-9), four runs, four RBIs and a stolen base. Many Dawgs had monster days offensively, including Katz (3 H, 4 RBIs, 2 R, SB), Voshell (3 H, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 2 SB), Laycee Josoff (3 H, 3 R, BB) and Van Wey (4 H, 4 R, SB).
Van Wey commented after senior day, “There was a lot of energy and when one person gets a hit, the next person gets a hit. It was just great for us to get hyped up.”
The Tigers moved down to 2-12 in the GPAC and 13-24 overall. Peyton Bagley led the visitors with eight hits (8-for-10), four RBIs, and four runs. Alyssa Burke received the loss (0-1) in game one only giving up two hits and three runs in 3.1 innings.
Concordia (16-20, 6-6 GPAC) will finish their third doubleheader in four days against College of Saint Mary (7-23, 0-10) on Monday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT at Plum Creek Park.