TUCSON, Ariz. – Megan Eurich pitched eight strikeouts making way for the Bulldogs to defeat Valley City State University (N.D.), 8-3, in game two on Wednesday (March 12). Concordia University, Nebraska Softball split its competitions, falling 14-5 to Westcliff University (Calif.) in the day opener. With two games remaining at the Tucson Invite, the Bulldogs will make their way to Lincoln Park for the final games tomorrow.
Head Coach Brock Culler and the squad have moved to 13-7 overall and 5-1 in Tucson.
“We just didn’t pitch or play defense well in the first game,” Coach Culler said. “They are good hitting team. Our offense was really good all day, so it was kind of disappointing that we couldn’t put it all together. Megan, it’s kind of the same thing. Her set up pitches are just so good right now. She has been able to attack with her strikeout pitches. Defense played well behind her in that game, and I really like where we are offensively right now.”
The Bulldogs collected nine hits in each contest but were able to put three more across the final plate versus Valley City State. The usual Tucson suspects helped Concordia to get two tallies on the board with a Jennifer Katz single and a Hanna Bowers sacrifice fly. The Dawgs added four more runs from two three-baggers by Kylie Shottenkirk (4 inn.) and pinch hitter Keira Farritor (6th inn.).
On the defensive side, Eurich did what she does best, dicing the Vikings eight times in seven innings and allowed only one earned run and zero walks. The Gretna, Neb., product has moved her record above .500 (5-4) after a slow start and has 23 Ks in the Grand Canyon State. The GPAC pitcher of the week now has 399 career strikeouts.
Katz (three), Krieser (three), Ganstrom (three), Shottenkirk (three) all tied for the most hits on day three as the Louisville High alum raked in five runs batted in. Bowers joined the list of two RBI’s hitters with Shottenkirk and Farritor. Ganstrom led the team in runs (four) and in hitting percentage (3-for-5).
Concordia’s offense kept them in the game versus Westcliff but the pitching staff didn’t have its best game, giving up 14 runs and 15 hits in the first loss in Tucson. Ganstrom (5.0 IP) came in relief for Kaylei Denison (1.1 IP) with Jordan Head (0.2 IP) finishing the game off.
Concordia (12-7) is set for the final day in Tucson to face Salve Regina University (Calif.), 1-3, and Simpson University (N.D.), 11-10. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. MT / 1 p.m. CT at Lincoln Park.