PERU, Neb. – After each of its last three wins came via walk-off hits, the Concordia University softball team gladly rolled up a doubleheader sweep by an average win margin of six runs on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs defeated host Peru State College, 7-2, and 8-1.
Concordia has won four-straight games and has moved to 22-7 overall. Wednesday’s action wasn’t nearly as exciting as Thursday’s twin bill that saw the Bulldogs sweep Hastings courtesy of walk-off hits by Diana Mendoza and Maddie Fousek. Third-year head coach Todd LaVelle enjoyed the lack of drama in Peru.
“That was kind of nice for once,” LaVelle said. “You always worry about having a lull after two exciting wins the night before. The girls just came out and played solid D. I thought we hit the ball really well.
“Amanda Wygant did a really nice job keeping them off balance in the second game. I was pleased to see her continue to develop as a go-to pitcher.”
The Bulldogs simply took care of business in dispatching of Peru State on Wednesday. Five different players collected at least two hits in the opening game. After the Bobcats closed within 4-2, Concordia broke the contest open with a three-run fifth that included RBI singles by Mendoza and center fielder Megan Ruppert. Also in game 1, third baseman Autumn Owens went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs.
After Kylie Harpst and Michaela Woodward split pitching duties in game 1, Wygant, a junior from Oceanside, Calif., continued her fine work in the circle with a complete game effort in the capper. She’s Each of her three wins as a Bulldog have come in the last two days. In her latest outing, Wygant sprinkled eight hits and two walks over seven innings. She’s allowed only three earned runs over 18.1 innings this season.
Wygant also helped herself at the plate by going 2-for-2 with three RBIs in game 2. Freshman Leah Kalkwarf enjoyed a 3-for-6 day with a pair of RBIs. Ten different Bulldogs had at least one hit, including senior Amanda Snider, who recorded her first hit of the year. Ruppert had two hits in game 1 and now has multiple hits in five of her last nine games.
Peru State entered the game 1-3 against GPAC opponents. The Bobcats got good production out of the No. 9 spot occupied by catcher Hannah Mitchel. She went 2-for-3 in both ends of the doubleheader.
The hectic week continues for the Bulldogs on Thursday when they host Grace University (3-32) for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. Concordia will then gear up for a weekend road trip complete with four games against top-25 foes: No. 14 Morningside and No. 23 Grand View University (Iowa). Said LaVelle, “We have to keep fine tuning with Morningside on the horizon.”