SEWARD, Neb. - Concordia University, Nebraska softball is already 14 games into the season but will play eight more contests during spring break at the Tucson Invitational starting Sunday (March 9). The Bulldogs faced six different opponents at the USM Top Gun Invite and split with a 3-3 showing in Shawnee, Kansas. Head Coach Brock Culler’s dugout has an 8-6 record with 31 regular season games to come.
Tucson Invitational
--All games played at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Arizona.
--Live Updates: @cunebulldogs X/Twitter
Sunday, March 9 vs. William Penn (10-4), 11 a.m. MST / 1 p.m. CDT
--Gamechanger
Sunday, March 9 vs. Franklin and Marshall (0-0), 3:30 p.m. MST / 5:30 p.m. CDT
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Monday, March 10 vs. Viterbo (1-3), 1:30 p.m. MST / 3:30 p.m. CDT
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Monday, March 10 vs. Mayville State (3-13), 3:30 p.m. MST / 5:30 p.m. CDT
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Wednesday, March 12 vs. Westcliff (5-7), 11 a.m. MST / 1 p.m. CDT
--Gamechanger
Wednesday, March 12 vs. Valley City State (5-7), 1:30 p.m. MST / 3:30 p.m. CDT
--Gamechanger | Live Webcast
Thursday, March 13 vs. Salve Regina (0-0), 11 a.m. MST / 1 p.m. CDT
--Gamechanger | Live Stats | Live Webcast $$
Thursday, March 13 vs. Simpson (7-6), 1:30 p.m. MST / 3:30 p.m. CDT
--Gamechanger
By the numbers
· The Top Gun results for Concordia came with wins versus Peru State College, 4-1, Graceland University (Kan.), 2-0, and Park University (Mo.), 4-2. The losses came from the hands of MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), 7-6, No. 18 Benedictine College (Kan.), 9-0 (5 inn.), and No. 24 Baker University (Kan.), 3-0. Megan Eurich went 2-1 over the weekend with a spectacular one-hitter (7th inn.) versus Graceland. In 15.2 innings pitched, the Gretna product surrendered 11 hits, three earned runs, six walks and struck out 23. Taryn Ganstrom finished 1-1 inside the circle (13.0 inn.) allowing 13 hits, four earned runs, a walk, and five strikeouts. With 17 players seeing time played, Jennifer Katz paced the team in batting average (.500), hits (six), home runs (two), runs (four) and RBIs (T-four). Aubriana Krieser (.375), Grace Maguire (.333) and Aubrey Bruning (.273) followed Katz in hitting percentage.
· The power hitters with the teams’ leading slugging percentages start with Katz mashing a team high .882. Ganstrom (.535), Kylie Shottenkirk (.526), Maguire (.467) and Krieser (.444) round out the top five for the Dawgs. The individuals out front for getting on base continue with Katz (.487), Shottenkirk (.409), Krieser (.400) and Aubrey Bruning (.371). Shottenkirk, a Lincoln North Star alum, has a team high eight two-base hits as Krieser (four), Bruning (three) and Katz (three) follow. In runs batted in, Delanie Voshell, Hanna Bowers and Katz are all tied with a lineup topping eight apiece.
· The Concordia hurlers have each amassed at least one win including Kaylei Denison (3-1), Ganstrom (2-1), Eurich (2-4) and Jordan Head (1-0). The ERAs for the Bulldogs have Denison and Ganstrom at 2.42 each and Eurich follows with a 3.73. The senior out of Gretna, Neb., has seven starts, 35.2 innings pitched and 39 total strikeouts. Denison, a Waverly, Neb., native, has pitched 34.2 innings allowing 12 earned runs and gathered 23 Ks. Eurich and Denison have each pitched a shutout.
· Jennifer Katz shot out of the gate with a team high three blasts over the fence, surpassing her season high (two) last year. Obvious that the senior has put in overtime in the offseason, the senior has turned up the heat early with a .412 batting average, two triples, three two-base hits and a side soaring 13 runs across the final bag. The second-year transfer has put together 21 put outs, zero errors and continues to throw base runners out from center field.
· Pitcher Megan Eurich found her footing at the Mid-America Sports complex going 2-1 on the weekend. With a career 3.20 ERA, she has allowed 19 earned runs this season. The Concordia Softball single season strikeout leader has amassed 374 career Ks and is sixth in program history. She is only 13 opposing sit-downs from surpassing No. 5 Kati McEwen (2000-03) with 386. Eurich has 31 wins in her career and will have a chance to enter the top-eight with McEwen having 33 wins in her time as a Bulldog.
· Concordia has been efficient on the base paths with 23 stolen bases in 25 attempts. Delanie Voshell (4-for-4), Ganstrom (4-for-4) and Aubrey Bruning (4-for-5) are the lead roadrunners making life anxious for the opposing pitchers. Katz (3-for-3) and Tobi Top (2-for-2) follow not far behind in striding on the stripe. Others with stolen bases are Krieser, Shottenkirk, O’Boyle, Hanna Bowers, Laycee Josoff and Aubrey Wright.
Upcoming opponents
William Penn University (Iowa) has a 10-4 record playing seven games against the GPAC with a 6-1 record as the Statesmen are much improved from a season ago. NCAA division three’s Franklin and Marshall College (Penn.) will have their season opener on Sunday before playing CUNE and finished 2024 with a 15-25 record. Viterbo University (Wisc.) is 1-3 early in its season having lost to common conference foe College of Saint Mary (10-1).
Mayville State (N.D.) has posted a 3-13 showing and fell to the Bulldogs (5-0) in Sioux Center at the American State Bank Sports Complex. Westcliff University (Calif.) totaled a 5-7 slate through 12 games and is on a four game losing skid. Valley City State (N.D.) has a 5-7 overall record with a 3-2 showing against GPAC teams. Salve Regina University (R.I.) will open its season at Lincoln Park and tallied a 12-24 record last season. Simpson University (Calif.) is 7-6 overall having won the past five games.
After Tucson
Concordia will enter conference play post Tucson Invitational and is set to start GPAC competitions with Morningside and Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs will face the Mustangs on March 21 in Sioux City and the Tigers on March 22 in Mitchell.