SEWARD, Neb. – Unlike the first home game day of 2019, the Concordia University softball team was able to put together winning efforts in both ends of a conference doubleheader. The two games on Saturday afternoon (April 6) took a combined two-and-a-half hours to play as the Bulldogs made quick work of visiting Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia won 8-0 and 10-2 with both contests ending by the run rule in five innings.
Head coach Shawn Semler’s squad won its final three games of the weekend after being no-hit in the first contest of Friday’s doubleheader. The Bulldogs have triumphed in 15 of their last 16 and have moved to 16-4 overall (5-1 GPAC).
“When you put that lineup you figure you’re going to do a lot of that,” Semler said of the offensive production. “I think we’ll see more of that yet this spring, but there’s still some great pitchers out there that we’re going to face. We have to be consistent in hitting that kind of pitching.”
Concordia outhit the Tigers (7-23, 2-8 GPAC), 24-10, while providing plenty of run support for pitchers Camry Moore and Brittany Woolridge. The Bulldogs faced a deficit only briefly to begin game two before pouring it back on Dakota Wesleyan. It was an especially fine day for reigning GPAC Player of the Year Hhana Haro, who reached base in six of her seven plate appearances and collected five hits. Junior Savannah Robertson also enjoyed a 3-for-3, two-double, four-RBI performance in game two.
Haro and company put up a cool 30 runs combined over the final three games of the weekend. The lineup is proving to be one that can bite opponents hard one through nine.
“I think it’s all about having fun now,” Haro said. “When you have fun, good things happen. We’re super excited about this season.”
Moore bounced back nicely and was a big-time performer in game one. In the circle, she fired a five-inning, two-hit shutout in which she struck out three and did not allow a single walk. At the plate, Moore added a pair of hits, two runs and an RBI. The eight-run rule was enacted in the bottom of the fifth when Taylor Zehendner cleared the bases with a three-run double in her first career varsity at bat.
In game two, five Bulldogs notched two or more hits: Haro (3-for-3), Robertson (3-for-3), Allysia Thayer (2-for-2), Tori Homolka (2-for-4) and MacKinsey Schmidt (2-for-4). Homolka nearly left the yard in the third inning with a two-run double that pelted the fence in right center. From a defensive perspective, the highlight of the game was a diving snare made by shortstop Jamie Lefebure on a liner off the bat of Amber Budmark.
Woolridge is now 8-0 after going all five innings of game two. She scattered eight hits and a walk. The Tucson, Ariz., native struck out nine hitters and concluded the contest by striking out the side in the fifth. Semler lauded Moore and Woolridge for their ability to work quickly.
Said Semler, “I thought we got great pitching. Our pitching really works fast so that allowed us to get through two games really quick.”
Dakota Wesleyan has had its issues holding down the opposition. In Saturday’s games, Sierra Haage and Alyson VanderPol were tagged with losses. VanderPol was removed from the game with two outs in the first inning. After going scoreless in the first three frames of game one, Concordia pushed across at least one run in each of the next five innings. The biggest explosion was the six runs the Bulldogs brought home in the third inning of game two.
A showdown at Morningside (15-6, 8-2 GPAC) looms on Tuesday. First pitch from Sioux City, Iowa, is set for 3 p.m. CT. The Mustangs shared the GPAC regular season title with Midland last season.