By Sam Firminhac, Athletic Communications
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Softball team came away with its first conference win of the season on Saturday (March 26) while welcoming Dordt to a chilly Plum Creek Park for the first home action of 2022. The Bulldogs split the afternoon doubleheader, losing the first game, 2-0, but later bouncing back to win the second game, 4-2. Camry Moore led the Bulldogs with three hits on the day.
Head Coach Tatum Edwards’ squad now moves to an even 12-12 on the year (1-3 GPAC). Edwards was impressed with how her team battled back to split the doubleheader.
“I’m proud of how we fought back in that second game,” Edwards said. “We were more aggressive in our at-bats in the second game. I know that first game Camry did an awesome job pitching, she moved the ball around. We just weren't as aggressive in that first game. Jerzi (Rowe) pitched awesome again and gave us a chance to win. It was a good day to be at home.”
The Bulldogs were unable to get the bats going in the first game of the doubleheader. Moore and Caitlyn McGarvie were the only two bulldogs to reach base, both via singles. Moore was also given the start in the game and went the distance. Through seven innings she only allowed one earned run and stuck out eight along the way in another masterful performance.
In game two the Concordia bats showed signs of life. After a McGarvie triple and Moore RBI single, the Bulldogs were up early. Kylee Nixon singled in a run and Julia Van Wey delivered a two-RBI double to cap off a three-run fifth inning for Concordia. Rowe shut the door on the Defenders, who had the bases loaded in the final inning, to secure the victory. Rowe threw a seven-inning complete game and only allowed two runs on seven hits. The drama ended on a fly ball to right with the bases loaded.
The Bulldogs are hoping the pitching combination of Moore and Rowe will be a formidable one throughout conference play. Their different styles have proven difficult for opposing teams this year.
Edwards said, “Camry throws hard, she’s going to go on both sides of the plate and come at your hands. Jerzi is a really good spinner. She has a nice changeup too. It’s a very different look going from Cam to Jerzi. They do a really good job of complimenting each other and what their strengths are.”
For Dordt, Abby Kraemer put forth a near flawless performance in the circle for the Defenders (11-8-1, 1-1 GPAC) in game one. She threw a complete game shutout while only allowing two baserunners. Karli Olsen had a two-RBI day, one in each game. Jessica Flaherty and Ivy Terpstra had one RBI apiece.
The Bulldogs will be right back at Plum Creek Park on Sunday with another 1 p.m. CT GPAC doubleheader. College of Saint Mary (5-14, 2-0 GPAC) will make the trip to Seward to face Concordia. The Bulldogs split the season series against the Flames in last year's matchups.