SEWARD, Neb. – Two key factors in the active 12-game winning streak for the Concordia University softball team, sophomore Tori Homolka and senior Brittany Woolridge have picked up GPAC awards, as announced on Tuesday (April 2). For the second week in a row, Homolka has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Softball Player of the Week. Woolridge has been tabbed the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Softball Pitcher of the Week.
Homolka has been sizzling out of the leadoff spot in the lineup. The first baseman/shortstop continued her hot hitting last week by going 5-for-8 with three runs, two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs in the doubleheader sweep of Doane. In game one of the doubleheader, the Swanton, Neb., native delivered a three-run homer and later the game-winning two-run blast. Among GPAC players, Homolka ranks first in slugging percentage (.877), first in hits per game (1.69) and second in batting average (.474). She is 17-for-26 at the plate over the past seven games.
Meanwhile, Woolridge has been on a roll in the circle in making the most of her final collegiate season. She earned the weekly award based on her three-hit shutout of Doane in the second game of the doubleheader. In that contest, Woolridge faced only 24 batters in a seven-inning complete game. The native of Tucson, Ariz., moved her record to a spotless 6-0 to go along with a 1.75 ERA over 44 innings (nine appearances). Woolridge has struck out 29 hitters and has walked only six this season. She ranks third among GPAC pitchers in ERA.
Head coach Shawn Semler’s squad will attempt to extend the winning streak this weekend when it hosts Jamestown on Friday and Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday. The Bulldogs (13-3, 2-0 GPAC) have yet to play at home.