Peru State takes two from Bulldogs in in-state battle

SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia struggled at the plate all afternoon as visiting Peru State swept the nonconference twin bill at Plum Creek Park on Thursday. The Bobcats (9-17) held the Bulldogs to just six combined hits in the doubleheader sweep as Concordia fell to 1-3 on the homestand. The Bulldogs dropped to 8-13 overall.

“We hit some sharp balls in the last game – didn’t get through, but we showed signs of making good contact,” Bulldog head coach Frank Greene said. “We were down and out the first game. It was 6-0 but the kids didn’t quit.

“There were some things that were positive, and you’ve got to build on those things.”

Seward native Lauren Johnson pitched a gem in game one against the Bulldogs, holding them to one unearned run on three hits. Concordia got its only run with the help of a Bobcat error that extended the bottom of the seventh. Shelby Morose’s RBI single drove in the lone run of the day, but it was too little too late.

The Bulldogs got another solid outing from right-handed pitcher Amanda Beeson, whose four-game winning streak was snapped on Thursday. The Waverly, Neb., native scattered nine hits and allowed only two earned runs in a seven-inning complete game. Beeson now has nine complete games on the season.

Freshman Julia Tyree pitched the second game and held up well until Peru State struck for three runs in the fifth and then four in the seventh to put the contest out of reach. The Bobcats tallied 11 hits in game two, led by the 3-for-4 effort from leadoff hitter Traci Bohlmeyer (5-for-7 in the doubleheader).

Peru State also held down Concordia junior catcher Amber Topil, who had entered the day 11-for-20 over her last seven games. Topil had just one hit in the doubleheader.

Greene hopes the Bulldogs can regroup for an important weekend full of GPAC action. He knows things can turn quickly if his team can regain the form that saw them win five of six games and bat .366 during that stretch prior to the current homestand.

“I love the effort they give me,” Greene said of his student-athletes. “They’re not trying to lose. Things are a little frustrating right now, but that’s the game of softball. You go through ups and downs.

“We’ll try to pick it back up and see what we can do. Three or four wins this weekend would change a lot of things.”

The Bulldogs, in the middle of an eight-game homestand, welcome Northwestern on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Concordia will then host Briar Cliff on Sunday for a twin bill that begins at 2 p.m. All of this weekend’s games will be viewable online via the Concordia Sports Network.