Woodward named GPAC player and pitcher of week
SEWARD, Neb. – The brightest star of Concordia’s thrilling GPAC tournament title run, freshman Michaela Woodward has swept GPAC weekly softball honors. On Tuesday the conference named the Cortland, Neb., native both the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player and Pitcher of the Week, marking the first career collegiate honors for Woodward.
A workhorse in the circle, Woodward threw all 39.2 innings in six games over four days of GPAC tournament action for the champion Bulldogs. Routinely able to wiggle out of jams, Woodward allowed 19 runs on 36 hits and 21 walks while going 5-1 over six starts last week. She limited Nebraska Wesleyan to one run on two hits on April 29. The next day she threw a five-inning shutout as the Bulldogs eliminated second-seeded Midland.
At the plate, Woodward topped the Bulldogs with a .450 (9-for-20) GPAC tournament batting average. She connected on a key three-run blast that put Concordia on top of Morningside in the title-clinching victory on May 2. Woodward drove in eight runs last week out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
On the year, Woodward owns a 19-11 record and 4.54 ERA in 180.1 innings (most in the GPAC). Her 19 wins are tied for fourth most on the program’s single-season list. As a hitter, Woodward is batting .386 with three home runs and 38 RBIs (tied for the team lead).
Woodward and the Bulldogs will learn of their national tournament opening round assignment when the NAIA announces official pairings at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday.