YORK, Neb. – The Concordia University softball team dipped outside of conference play on Monday evening, making the short journey west in a meeting with York College. Following the arm and bat of Michaela Woodward, the Bulldogs took game 1, 4-2. The Panthers rebounded for a wild 12-8 victory in the night cap.
Even with the loss in game 2, fourth-year head coach Todd LaVelle’s squad has won eight of its last 10 contests. Concordia owns an overall record of 21-9.
In the circle, Woodward went the distance in the opener. She limited York to just one earned run on four hits and four walks. She struck out eight hitters. She also helped herself out with the bat, going 2-for-4 with a fifth-inning RBI triple that provided an insurance run.
Leah Kalkwarf got the Bulldogs started in her first at bat of the day with a two-run single. For the evening, the Omaha native went 3-for-7 with four runs batted in. She was one of the standouts for an offense that pounded out 20 hits in the twin bill. Woodward, who did not start game 2, added a pinch hit RBI single and enjoyed a 3-for-5 day. Meanwhile, Megan Ruppert extended her hitting streak to eight games.
Two monster innings for York (7-21) doomed the Bulldogs in game 2. The Panthers got five runs in the third and then another five in the fifth. The major blows were three-run home runs hit by both Jyllian Ahart and Mikayla Lawrence. York belted three long balls in the second contest that saw LaVelle employ AJ Wygant and Delaney Nance in the circle.
In game 2, Concordia’s one through three hitters (Ruppert, Kalkwarf and Autumn Owens) were a combined 6-for-12. Out of the No. 5 spot, Ronee Watson went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Bulldogs will again try to make up their postponed home doubleheader with No. 10 Morningside (23-6, 5-1 GPAC). The two sides have agreed to meet at 3 p.m. CT on Thursday (April 6) at Plum Creek Park. The Mustangs, the defending GPAC champs, currently sit atop the league standings.