SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska softball team split a doubleheader with No. 22 Midland on Wednesday (April 2) at Plum Creek Park, winning game one, 2-0, before falling 1-0 in the second. In both pitchers’ duels, one pitcher threw a shutout in each as ace Megan Eurich kept a zero on the scoreboard in the opening contest. The Bulldogs showcased strong pitching in both contests with Kaylei Denison allowing one run in the last seven frames.
Head Coach Culler and company reach 20 wins (20-10) and have amassed a 5-3 record early on in GPAC play.
“Just challenge their batters,” Coach Culler said. “Trust our defense and yourselves. Pitching today, was outstanding. I’m happy Megs got a win and I feel like we could have got a win for Kaylei there. But overall, I’m happy with how our team performed today. Our offense got no hit on game two, but we only gave up one strikeout in each game. Our approach to the plate was good. We were putting the bat on the ball and competing hard. I just feel like in all three phases we played at a high level.”
In Game one, Concordia relied on Megan Eurich’s complete-game shutout (3rd season) to secure the victory. Eurich scattered eight hits and struck out four, improving her record to 7-6. A Gretna, Neb., native, Eurich is seven put outs away from 100 on the year.
Said Eurich, “A lot of it was just locating my pitches. We had a great defense behind me and that helped a lot. Me and Deni have been working so hard. We are complimenting each other really well, to just go out there and pitch our butts off.”
The Bulldogs scored in the second inning when Delanie Voshell singled and crossed the plate on Taryn Ganstrom’s RBI single, claiming a 1-0 lead. An unearned run in the third extended the edge, as Jennifer Katz walked, stole home, and capitalized on a Midland error. Despite eight hits from Midland, including three by Reese Floro, the Warriors stranded six runners and couldn’t solve the puzzling pitching via Eurich.
Denison (7-2) came out firing in the second game, allowing her defense to play behind her. The Waverly High alum gave up only five hits, one walk and the lone run in the fourth, facing 27 batters from Midland.
The Warriors’ Campbell Petrick would outdo Denison and the Dawg offense. She pitched a seven-inning no-hitter, collecting seemingly endless ground balls. Concordia’s offense, which managed just four hits in the opening game, was held hitless for the second time this season. The only baserunners came via walks to Voshell and Laycee Josoff, plus an error, but left three on base.
Midland (22-11, 4-2 GPAC) scored the only game’s run in the fourth. Jayce Reimers and Isabelle Pagan singled. With two on, Matti Reiling’s sacrifice fly drove in pinch runner Brie Lively for a 1-0 lead.
Concordia (20-10, 5-3 GPAC) returns to action Saturday, traveling to No. 7 Northwestern (30-5, 10-0 GPAC). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the NWC Softball Diamond. The Bulldogs are on a seven game losing skid, having last defeated the Red Raiders in 2022.