SEWARD, Neb. – The sixth national tournament game in program history will get underway at 12 p.m. CT on Monday. The Concordia University Softball team has garnered the No. 3 seed in the four-team Chickasha Bracket and will face off with Grand View University (Iowa) in the very first game of the bracket. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad will be joined in Oklahoma by host and top-seeded University of Science & Arts and fourth-seeded Bethany College (Kan.).
NAIA Opening Round – Chickasha Bracket
Site: Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Okla.
Live Webcasts: USAO Stretch Live
Live Stats: Dakstats
Monday, May 17
Game 1 – (1) Science & Arts vs. (4) Bethany, 12 p.m.
Game 2 – (2) Grand View vs. (3) Concordia, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 18
Game 3 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 2 p.m.
Game 5 – Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19
Game 6 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 12 p.m.
Game 7 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Fan information/tickets: Spectators are permitted to attend games at the Chickasha Bracket. Fans are expected to wear face coverings when proper distancing cannot be maintained. Admission can be purchased at the ballpark entrance (no online sales). Ticket prices are $10 for a day pass and $25 for a tournament pass.
For details on Concordia program history at the national tournament, click HERE.
By the numbers
· As announced on Thursday by the GPAC, six Bulldogs have earned 2021 all-conference accolades: Hhana Haro (first team), Caitlyn McGarvie (first team), Camry Moore (first team), Tori Homolka (honorable mention), Jenessa Jarvis (honorable mention) and Kylee Nixon (honorable mention). One of the most accomplished players in program history, Haro has earned three first team All-GPAC awards in her career. On the program’s all-time career lists, Haro ranks third in hits (203), third in doubles (42), fourth in batting average (.448), sixth in home runs (15), sixth in RBIs (106) and ninth in runs scored (99).
· Moore moved up from second team All-GPAC as a freshman in 2019 to the first team in 2021. The Crete, Neb., native has established herself as the best two-way player (pitcher-hitter) in the GPAC. As the team’s ace, Moore owns a pitching record of 20-5 to go along with a 1.75 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 148.1 innings. Moore has surrendered just 14 walks all season. In an impressive effort, she threw all 21 innings as Concordia went 3-0 as part of the Morningside Bracket of the GPAC tournament. At the plate, Moore is hitting .391 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 40 RBIs, a .442 on-base percentage and .677 slugging percentage.
· Named the 2018 GPAC Player of the Year as a freshman, Haro will bring a 14-game hitting streak into the national tournament. Over that stretch, Haro has batted .531 (26-for-49) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs and a .735 slugging percentage. With her 203 career hits, Haro stands behind only Mindy Evans (227) and Clarissa Eloge (208) on the school’s all-time list.
· Haro and Homolka will finish their impressive college softball careers at the national tournament. Homolka (Swanton, Neb.) has been a rock for the program over the past four seasons. So far this season, she’s started all 43 games at shortstop and is hitting .333 with eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 41 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, a .361 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. Homolka was a first team All-GPAC selection in 2019. On the program’s all-time career lists, she ranks second in triples (14), tied for fourth in home runs (17), fifth in RBIs (110), tied for seventh in runs scored (102), seventh in stolen bases (32), 10th in hits (160) and 10th in doubles (33).
· The Bulldogs will have to advance to the NAIA Softball World Series in order to make a serious run at the program’s single-season wins record of 36 achieved by the 2005 team that won the GPAC regular season title under the guidance of then Head Coach Frank Greene. At 32-11 overall (.744), this 2021 Concordia team boasts the second best winning percentage in school history behind only the 1998 squad that went 33-10 (.767). Four teams in school history have won at least 33 games, including the 2003 (34-16) and 2017 (34-14) squads.
Chickasha Bracket Opposition
(1) University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (48-6) – As the top seed and host of the bracket, the Drovers will be considered the favorite to advance to the NAIA World Series. Head Coach Jadyn Wallis’ squad defeated second-ranked Oklahoma City University, 3-1, in the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship game on May 8. From a statistical standpoint, USAO has no significant weaknesses. Nationally, it ranks third in ERA (1.22), fourth in fielding percentage (.975), sixth in opponent batting average (.194), sixth in batting average (.361), ninth in slugging percentage (.534) and 14th in runs scored per game (6.7). Top pitcher Emily Cerny is 33-5 with a 1.05 ERA and 318 strikeouts in 233.1 innings.
(2) Grand View University (42-11) – The one and only national tournament win in Concordia Softball history came over Grand View in 2015. The current Vikings were ranked 22nd in the most recent NAIA Coaches’ Poll. Under Head Coach Lou A. Yacinich, Grand View has qualified for the national tournament seven times in the past eight seasons. Led by Alyx Witt (15 home runs, 48 RBIs), the Vikings have homered 46 times as a team. A strong pitching staff is led by Hannah Pals, who is 25-5 with a 1.34 ERA and 299 strikeouts in 194 innings. Grand View on the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season title.
(4) Bethany College (26-27) – Concordia and Bethany went head-to-head in Lindsborg, Kan., back on Feb. 28 with the Bulldogs earning a doubleheader sweep. The Swedes earned an automatic bid to nationals via their Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season runner up finish. This marks Bethany’s second all-time national tournament appearance and first since 2013. The top player for the Swedes has been slugger Ciera Flores, who has collected 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 63 RBIs.
NAIA Softball World Series
No Concordia Softball team has ever made its way to the NAIA Softball World Series. The 2021 Series will be held at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga., May 27 – June 2. The 10 winners to emerge from the opening round brackets advance to the World Series.