LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Members of the Concordia University Softball team walked away from Saturday (Feb. 25)’s doubleheader in Leavenworth, Kan., knowing it can play at a higher level. At the very least, the Bulldogs salvaged a split with the help of a go-ahead two-run double from Zoie Isom and another fine pitching performance from Megan Eurich. As part of the doubleheader, host University of Saint Mary took the first game by the run rule, 9-0, in five innings before Concordia rebounded to take the second game, 5-3.
Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad has followed a pattern so far in 2023 of dropping the first game of the day and then winning the second. The Bulldogs stand at 3-3.
“We didn’t play our best the whole day,” Culler said. “Our pitchers threw good enough for us to win both games. Offensively and defensively, we couldn’t get the support there for them. But being able to bounce back and scratch out a W, especially the way we did it, was exciting. It gave us some confidence that we can bounce back from those things. The energy level came back up, but we do need to play cleaner.”
The first game was one for Concordia to flush. It committed four errors and was shut out by Spire pitcher Megan Brinkman on three hits. Bulldog starting pitcher Jerzi Rowe covered 4.1 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk before Brooke Townsend relieved her in the bottom of the fifth. An error in the fifth brought two runs home that enacted the eight-run rule.
In game two, Eurich moved her season record to 3-0 by tossing her third complete game already this season. She allowed only one earned run on six hits and a walk while striking out six batters. The sophomore from Gretna, Neb., managed to work around six errors as Concordia continued to struggle in the field.
Fortunately, the Bulldogs did enough in the way of timely hitting to help atone for those mistakes. Isom singled in a run in the first, Hanna Bowers doubled in one in the second and Delanie Voshell knocked in a run in the sixth with a sac fly. The two sides were deadlocked going into the seventh. Creighton Taylor and Bowers both singled to set the stage for Isom’s clutch two-run doubles with two outs. In the bottom half, Eurich closed it out while surrendering only a two-out single.
Said Culler, “Megan continues to be able to get out of innings and make big pitches in big moments. Just when we send someone to the bullpen to get warmed up, she comes through clutch. She was really dealing again today. I’m glad we were able to get her some support. Hopefully we can get Jerzi one because she’s throwing well too. As well as she’s throwing, it’s coming.”
Isom finished the day with three hits and three RBIs. In game two, Bowers (2-for-4) and Taylor (2-for-2) also notched a pair of hits. The Concordia offensive attack was limited to 11 total hits over the two games. As for Saint Mary, its record now stands at 5-6 on the season.
The Bulldogs will travel roughly 25 miles north of Leavenworth for Sunday’s action in Atchison, Kan. The opposition will be Benedictine College (Kan.), a Heart of America Athletic Conference member that Concordia defeated last weekend at the KC Invite. Sunday’s doubleheader is slated to get underway at 12 p.m. CT.