HASTINGS, Neb. – Aubrey Bruning and Delanie Voshell’s hot hitting night led the Bulldogs to a split versus the Hastings on Wednesday night (March 26). Concordia University, Nebraska Softball defeated the Broncos in game two (11-5) but dropped game one (4-0) in a windy Smith Softball Complex. Voshell and Bruning collected four knocks apiece in the two game hitting clinic.
Head Coach Brock Culler and the Dawgs move to 17-9 overall and 2-2 in the conference early.
“We struck the ball really well, but everything seemed to go up in the air (game one),” Coach Culler said. “In the second game, we were hitting grounders and line drives. We had to make an adjustment with our stances in the box. It helps to get on the ball with a little less movement. Defensively, we were 100 percent not sharp in the first game. Credit to them, they are a good and really scrappy team.”
The bottom of the order made the difference in game two, as the six through nine hitters totaled a .636 hitting percentage (7-for-11), six runs and four runs batted in. Voshell led the pack, going 3-for-3, scoring two runs and taking a walk. In the fourth, Aubriana Krieser doubled to get the Dawgs rolling into six hits, earning four runs and jumping out to a two run lead.
In the sixth, the bottom of the order loaded the bases once again and Jennifer Katz hammered the nail in the coffin with a bases clearing single in the five-run inning to hit double digits (10-3). Hanna Bowers went 2-for-3, scoring two runs and an RBI. Kaylei Denison grabbed the win in a hitters' battle, allowing 12 hits and three earned runs in seven innings pitched.
Clubbing .352 coming into the doubleheader, Bruning went 4-for-7 with two RBIs, two stolen bases and a run in Hastings. The speedy left fielder has reached 10 stolen bases on the season. Voshell, a Shenandoah, Iowa native, went a team best .800 batting average (4-for-5). The outfield in Voshell, Bruning and Katz ran down multiple difficult fly balls with the wind affecting hits in the flat park.
Taryn Ganstrom cracked two hits and Kylie Shottenkirk totaled four walks against the Hastings’ circle.
The Bulldogs struggled offensively in game one, managing just four hits against the Hastings pitcher. Aubrey Bruning led Concordia with two hits (2-for-3) and a stolen base, while Taryn Ganstrom and Delanie Voshell each added a single, but the team couldn’t capitalize, stranding eight runners. Starter Megan Eurich took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with six putouts over six innings.
Hastings’ (15-13, 3-5 GPAC) pitcher Kiera Brack, who delivered a complete-game shutout with only three walks and two strikeouts in game one. Eight different players connected for hits in the opening contest for HC. Lauren Schneider paced the home team, going 3-for-5 in game two, piling up four total base hits.
Up next, the Dawgs (17-9, 2-2 GPAC) will make their home debut in Plum Creek Park against Briar Cliff (7-17, 1-7 GPAC) on Friday (March 28). First toss is set for 3 p.m. CT versus the Chargers. The Bulldogs defeated the GPAC foe 6-3 in both contests from a season ago.