By Toby Semler, Athletic Communications Intern
SEWARD, Neb. – In a midseason matchup of GPAC contenders, the Concordia University Softball team clashed against Midland in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon (April 11). After the Bulldog’s earned a 6-3 victory in game 1, game 2 quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel with the wind picking up and stifling any fly balls that left the infield. Game 2 ended with a three run seventh inning from the Warriors to propel them past Concordia by a score of 3-0.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s team moved to 19-6 on the season and 5-4 in GPAC play after the split. In the split, the Bulldogs showed some bright spots.
Said Semler, “I was so proud of the girls the way they came out and played in game 1 and answered – every time they scored, we answered. That was a good win for us.”
Coach Semler also noted that freshman pitcher Jerzi Rowe, despite the loss in game 2, gave the Bulldogs a performance to be proud of. “She did well, and it was fun for a freshman to do well in that game,” Semler said.
In game 1, the Bulldog’s got off to a hot start with a leadoff double from Kylee Nixon. She then stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly from Camry Moore. The Warriors answered quickly after being shut down in the first inning. They countered Concordia’s run with two runs of their own in the top of the second. In the very next half inning Concordia would bounce back scoring two runs off the bat of Julia Van Wey. This time the Warriors pushed across another run courtesy of three hits in the top of the third.
After trading blows in the opening frames, game 1 turned into a nail-biter with each team’s pitcher settling in. It wasn’t until the bottom of the fifth inning that the Bulldog bats would return to life. After back-to-back singles from Van Wey and Nixon, Tori Homolka broke the game open, hammering a missile up the middle to two runs. Hhana Haro then singled up the middle to score Homolka and give Concordia a 6-3 lead. From then on it was all business from Moore and the Bulldog defense who recorded the last six outs with little problem.
In game 2, it appeared as if both teams were feeling each other out. Both pitchers were firing strikes early and controlling much of the action. In the circle, Jerzi Rowe recorded four strikeouts while surrendering only six hits. The deciding factor of game two came in the seventh inning of a scoreless game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Rowe made a full count pitch that, likely would have gotten the Bulldogs out of the inning unharmed in less windier conditions. Unfortunately, the wind pushed a seemingly routine pop up near first base and out of reach of a diving Nixon. The Warriors went on to win the game, 3-0, with the benefit of three unearned runs.
After coming away with the split, the Warriors stand at 20-7 overall and 8-2 in GPAC play. The Bulldogs will return to action on Monday (April 12) in a continuation of the suspended game 2 from last week’s doubleheader at Doane. The contest is set to resume at 5 p.m. CT with the Tigers leading 3-1 in the top of the fifth.