SEWARD, Neb. – At long last, sunny and warmer weather greeted a Concordia University Softball team that wrapped up the regular season home slate on Saturday (April 9). As part of the happenings, the Bulldogs celebrated accomplished seniors Camry Moore and Kylee Nixon in between games of a doubleheader. The Concordia bats were kept quiet by Dakota Wesleyan in a 4-1 game one loss before an eight-run inning in game two powered a 12-6 victory to cap the day on a high note.
Head Coach Tatum Edwards’ squad split each of its four doubleheaders over the past week. The Bulldogs stand at 19-17 overall (7-7 GPAC).
“That was the most aggressive team we’ve seen against Camry,” Edwards said. “They forced us to make adjustments in our pitch calling and what levels we were trying to hit. She got better as the game went on. We just didn’t produce what we needed offensively. The second game – getting down early – we could have rolled over. Offensively, we came back and were swinging the bat. Our timing got better. Everyone throughout the lineup has to be part of it. To see them come back and win that second game was good going into next week.”
Dakota Wesleyan did not look like a team that entered the day with an eight-game losing streak. After taking the first contest on Saturday, the Tigers put themselves in position for a potential sweep while taking a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning of game two. Finally, things turned around as Zoie Isom doubled in a run, Kylie Shottenkirk singled in two and Moore singled home two more as part of an eight-run fourth. For good measure, Taylor Glause and Aubrey Bruning added an RBI single apiece in the fifth and Isom delivered a sac fly in the sixth.
The sudden springing to life of the offense saved the Bulldogs from being stunned on senior day. Concordia struggled mightily in game one while up against pitcher Meghan Daffern. She retired the first 14 batters she faced before hitting Caitlyn McGarvie with a pitch. The Bulldogs then got their lone run of the game when McGarvie stole second and scored on Shottenkirk’s base hit to left.
Knowing Moore’s ability to pound the strike zone, DWU went on the attack. The Tigers (10-23, 2-10 GPAC) managed to accumulate nine hits off Moore, who had been nearly spotless all week. Even so, the Crete High School alum battled and gave up just two earned runs and notched nine strikeouts. In 28 innings this past week, Moore surrendered a grand total of two earned runs.
In game two, Megan Eurich ate up all seven innings in the circle and earned her second win of the season. After a tough start, Eurich allowed only two runs over the game’s final five innings. Eurich registered six strikeouts.
Unless Concordia rattles off a significant win streak down the stretch, Moore and Nixon have made their last home appearances. Senior day is always a special occasion, especially for two Bulldogs so essential to the program over the past four seasons.
Said Moore, “It really means a lot. It doesn’t hit you when other girls are graduating in front of you, but I think it hit a little bit harder today. Just seeing the support from everyone is really awesome. It means a lot to all of us.”
Added Nixon, “All I can think about are the laughs I’ve shared with the girls over the years. It’s not so much about softball the game itself. It’s super cute for Camry and I to be able to do this together because we’ve been best friends for four years and lived together for three out of those four.”
Nixon had a base hit in the first game and made a number of nifty plays at second base on Saturday. After another solid pitching outing, Moore collected three hits, three runs and two RBIs in the game two win. Bruning and Shottenkirk also produced two hits apiece in the victory.
Said Edwards of the seniors, “Camry and Kylee have done nothing but give good things to the program. I am truly thankful to be part of it for one year of their careers. It’s been fun to get to know them on a personal level. They have really bright futures.”
The Bulldogs will be on the road for the final eight games of the regular season. That stretch begins on Tuesday with a trip to Sioux City, Iowa, for a 3 p.m. CT doubleheader at Morningside (16-10, 4-4 GPAC). Concordia managed to defeat the Mustangs twice on their home turf during the 2021 GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs wound up as the conference postseason runner up.