Softball opens 2015 with pair of losses at defending KCAC champ Kansas Wesleyan

SALINA, Kan. – Following a thrilling run to the 2014 national tournament, the Concordia University softball team returned to the diamond for opening day of the 2015 season. In a doubleheader played in Salina, Kan., host Kansas Wesleyan University dominated with wins by scores of 15-0 and 8-0 on Tuesday afternoon.

Head coach Todd LaVelle’s squad, which went 32-16 with a GPAC tournament runner-up finish last season, mustered only four combined hits while being shut out by Coyote pitchers Courtney Williams and McKenzie Draper.

On the other hand, defending Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion Kansas Wesleyan (10-2) churned out 21 hits on the day. The Coyotes tagged Concordia hurler Michaela Woodward, who made her collegiate debut, for eight earned runs on 11 hits in 2.1 innings. Four different Coyotes collected two hits apiece in game 1, which featured five RBIs from Stephanie Patterson.

Freshman catcher Shelby Schacher emerged as one of the bright spots for the Bulldogs. The Grand Island native went 3-for-4 with a walk on the afternoon. Senior first baseman Molly Madsen had the team’s only other hit against a Kansas Wesleyan team that went 38-9 overall in 2014.

Woodward came back to throw game 2. The Norris High School product gave up eight runs (all earned) over 5.1 innings of work in the capper, which finished in six innings with the inaction of the eight-run rule. Woodward was one of six players to appear as Bulldogs for the first time on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs now look forward to their spring break trip to Tucson, Ariz., where they play 13 games over a five-day stretch from March 8-12. That slate begins with Great Falls University and Bemidji State University on Sunday. Mike Meyer will provide audio play-by-play for each game during The Grand Canyon State swing. Click HERE at game time to access the webcast audio broadcasts.