SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Softball team will log plenty of miles this weekend with road doubleheaders on tap in Jamestown, N.D., and Mitchell, S.D. Heading into the week, the Bulldogs have 12 games remaining on the GPAC regular season slate. Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad began this week by rallying for a 6-3 win at Doane in a game that had been started on April 7 and then suspended due to darkness. Concordia owns a mark of 20-6 overall.
This Week
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) at Jamestown (25-7, 8-2)
Friday, April 16 | 3 p.m. DH
Trapper Field | Jamestown, N.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Jamestown Stretch Live
Concordia (20-6, 6-4) at Dakota Wesleyan (9-17, 1-9)
Saturday, April 17 | 12 p.m. DH
Cadwell Park | Mitchell, S.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Dakota Wesleyan Stretch Live
Fan policy: Both venues will allow fans to be present. Fans are expected to wear face coverings when proper social distancing cannot be maintained.
By the numbers
· Considering the circumstances, the win at Doane may have been as thrilling as any so far this season. When play was suspended after four innings of game 2 on April 7, the Tigers held a 3-1 lead. That advantage stood until there were two outs in the top of the seventh. That’s when hitting became contagious. Hhana Haro initiated a string of six-straight hits with an RBI single. Regan Karel then delivered the game-tying RBI double and Caitlyn McGarvie followed with a go-ahead RBI double. For good measure, Allysia Thayer and Kylee Nixon added an RBI single apiece.
· The Bulldogs are nearly halfway through the conference regular season. At 6-4 in the league, Concordia strongly believes it can be better down the stretch. One factor working in favor of the Bulldogs is the fact that they have already played three of the four teams currently ahead of them in the standings. Concordia is situated behind Morningside (10-0), Jamestown (8-2), Midland (8-2) and Northwestern (7-3) and tied with Mount Marty (6-4).
· In conference games only, the leading hitter for the Bulldogs has been Hhana Haro, who is 14-for-31 (.452) with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Seward High School alum Regan Karel has also been swinging a hot bat having hit .393 with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs in GPAC games. Four other Concordia regulars are hitting better than .300 in conference play: Camry Moore (.387), Kylee Nixon (.382), Tori Homolka (.323) and Caitlyn McGarvie (.320).
· Moore continues to shine as the team’s ace pitcher. She has run her season record to 13-2 to go along with a 2.03 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 82.2 innings. On another encouraging note, freshman Jerzi Rowe fired seven innings without allowing an earned run in game 2 of the home doubleheader versus Midland on April 11. After Moore in game 1 of twin bills, Semler has often mixed and matched with the likes of Rowe, Zoe Flores and Brooke Townsend.
· Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks fourth in fielding percentage (.959), fifth in runs scored per game (6.54), fifth in ERA (3.20), fifth in slugging percentage (.492) and sixth in batting average (.321). Individually, Moore ranks fourth in ERA (2.03) while being the stingiest pitcher in the conference in terms of walks allowed (1.02 per seven innings).
The opponents
Jamestown carries a nine-game winning streak into the week. In terms of strikeout stuff, there isn’t a more dominant pitcher in the GPAC than Kat Miska, who has racked up 152 K’s in 84 innings. She’s allowed just 11 earned runs in 14 appearances in the circle. At the plate, Morgan Geiszler has been the team’s most potent bat having hit .457 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 28 RBIs. Jamestown has a particularly impressive win on its resume in the 2-1 victory it captured over then No. 2 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. The Jimmies still have Concordia, Midland and No. 14 Morningside left on their GPAC schedule.
Dakota Wesleyan has struggled to a 1-9 mark in conference play. The Tigers have a first-year head coach in Derek Lien. DWU has had difficulty preventing runs. It has allowed 195 runs (171 earned) in 166 innings pitched. The team’s top hitter has been Stephanie Gabel, who is batting .378 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 30 RBIs.
Looking ahead
The Bulldogs will spend the following week at home with Briar Cliff and Mount Marty scheduled to be at Plum Creek Park April 23-24. Concordia plans to celebrate senior day on April 24.