2007 - Softball schedule/results
26-23 Overall, 14-9 GPAC - Season statistics
FEBRUARY | |||||
Evangel Invite: |
|
| |||
Feb. 23 | vs. Columbia College | Springfield, Mo. | W 3-1 | ||
Feb. 23 | vs. NW Missouri State | Springfield, Mo. | L 10-6 | ||
Feb. 23 | vs. Rogers State University | Springfield, Mo. | L 5-3 | ||
Feb. 24 | vs. TBA | Springfield, Mo. | Rained Out | ||
Feb. 24 | vs. TBA | Springfield, Mo. | Rained Out | ||
MARCH | |||||
Sun West Tourney: |
|
| |||
March 11 | vs. LaSierra University (CA) | Orange, Calif. | W 5-3 | ||
March 11 | vs. Gustavus (MN) | Orange, Calif. | L 3-0 | ||
March 12 | vs. UW-Platteville (WI) | Orange, Calif. | W 10-5 | ||
March 12 | vs. Macalester (MN) | Orange, Calif. | W 10-2 | ||
March 13 | Concordia Irvine (2) | Irvine, Calif. | L 3-2 | ||
March 15 | No. 1 California Baptist (2) | Riverside, Calif. | L 17-1 | ||
March 20 | Briar Cliff (2)* | Seward, Neb. | L 4-2 | ||
March 21 | Peru State (2) | Seward, Neb. | L 15-6 | ||
March 24 | Dakota Wesleyan (2)* | Mitchell, S.D. | W 7-1 | ||
March 27 | Midland Lutheran (2)* | Fremont, Neb. | L 4-2 | ||
March 28 | York (2) | York, Neb. | L 2-0 | ||
Morningside Tournament: |
|
| |||
March 30 | vs. College of St. Mary (NE) | Sioux City, Iowa | W 1-0 | ||
March 30 | vs. University of St. Mary (KS) | Sioux City, Iowa | W 14-1 | ||
March 31 | vs. University of MN-Morris | Vermillion, S.D. | W 11-1 (4 inn) | ||
APRIL | |||||
April 4 | Hastings (2)* | Hastings, Neb. | L 6-2 | ||
April 13 | Dordt (2)* | Seward, Neb. | W 3-0 | ||
April 14 | Univ. Sioux Falls (2)* | Seward, Neb. | W 9-1 (5 inn) | ||
April 17 | No. 19 Bellevue University (2) | Seward, Neb. | L 6-5 | ||
April 18 | Nebraska Wesleyan (2)* | Seward, Neb. | L 9-5 | ||
April 20 | Morningside (2)* | Sioux City, Iowa | L 9-1 (5 inn) | ||
April 21 | Mount Marty (2)* | Yankton, S.D. | W 7-0 | ||
April 28 | Northwestern (2)* | Seward, Neb. | W 6-1 | ||
April 30 | Dana (2)* | Seward, Neb. | W 17-0 (5 inn) | ||
MAY | |||||
May 1 | Doane College (2)* | Crete, Neb. | W 7-6 | ||
GPAC Tournament |
|
| |||
May 3 | vs. (4) Midland Lutheran | Sioux City, Iowa | W 8-0 | ||
May 3 | vs. (8) Briar Cliff | Sioux City, Iowa | W 4-1 | ||
May 4 | vs. (3) Dana | Sioux City, Iowa | W 6-0 | ||
May 4 | vs. (3) Dana | Sioux City, Iowa | W 11-2 (5 inn) | ||
NAIA Region III Tournament |
| ||||
May 9 | vs. (2) Morningside | Dickinson, N.D. | L 1-0 | ||
May 9 | vs. (3) Dana | Dickinson, N.D., | L 5-3 | ||
*Indicates GPAC Contest
Italics Indicate Tournament Games
BOLD Indicates Home Games
2007 - Softball roster
No. | Name | B/T | Pos. | Ht. | Yr. | Hometown |
10 | Katie Jeppesen | S/R | OF | 5-6 | SR | Pleasant Dale, Neb. |
11 | Rebecca Shaffer | S/R | U | 5-7 | SR | Lewisville, Texas |
12 | Amanda Hehn | R/R | P | 5-7 | SR | Fort Collins, Colo. |
13 | Anne Royuk | S/R | OF | 5-4 | SO | Arlington, Neb. |
14 | Samantha Hellbusch | R/R | SS/2B | 5-5 | JR | Creston, Neb. |
15 | Clarissa Eloge | S/R | INF | 5-5 | FR | Rising City, Neb. |
16 | Sarah Bergen | R/R | P/2B | 5-6 | JR | St. Charles, Mo. |
18 | Amanda Huckestein | R/R | P/C/1B | 5-8 | FR | Port Charlotte, Fla. |
19 | Kelsey Lambrecht | R/R | 2B/SS | 5-4 | SO | Wood River, Neb. |
20 | Caitlin Lawrence | R/R | P | 5-7 | FR | Torrington, Wyo. |
21 | Laura Fugate | R/R | 2B | 5-3 | FR | North Platte, Neb. |
22 | Felicia Freitas | L/R | 2B | 5-2 | FR | Hollister, Calif. |
23 | Rachel Mol | R/R | OF | 5-7 | SO | Flint, Mich. |
24 | Charlotte Kaeding | R/R | C/OF | 5-7 | SO | Westminster, Colo. |
25 | Christy Jeppesen | R/R | SS/U | 5-5 | JR | Pleasant Dale, Neb. |
26 | Tawny Bullerdick | R/R | C/OF | 5-4 | JR | Anaheim, Calif. |
28 | Kendra Oswald | R/R | INF/U | 5-7 | FR | Norfolk, Neb. |
29 | Kendall Burgess | R/R | C/1B | 5-10 | SO | Houston, Texas |
31 | Sally Wolff | R/R | IF/U | 5-5 | FR | Aurora, Neb. |
32 | Courtney Peretto | R/R | P/INF | 5-3 | FR | Vallejo, Calif. |
33 | Rachel Simmons | L/R | OF/SS | 5-3 | FR | Sandy, Utah |
Bulldogs split on day one at Sun West
11 MAR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team split a pair of games on the first day of the Sun West Tournament being played in Orange, Calif. The Bulldogs opened the tournament with a 5-3 win over LaSierra University before falling to Gustavus Adolphus, 3-0.
Concordia (2-3 overall) was scheduled to play another pair of games at the Sun West Tournament, taking on UW-Platteville and Macalester on Tuesday. While in California the Bulldogs will also play a pair of doubleheaders against Concordia-Irvine and California Baptist University. Those games are slated for March 13 and 15.
In the opening game of the tournament the Bulldogs put a pair of runs on the board in the second inning for the early lead. Laura Fugate singled in the second run of the inning.
LaSierrea scored three runs on four hits in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game, 3-2.
The Bulldogs answered in the top of the sixth, plating a pair of runs to regain the lead. Tawny Bullerdick scored the first run of the inning, crossing the plate on a pinch-hit single by Rachel Mol. Katie Jeppesen stole home for the other run.
Kendall Burgess added an insurance run for Concordia in the top of the seventh on a solo homerun.
Amanda Huckestein came in for the final two and two-third innings in relief of starting pitcher Sarah Bergen. Huckestein was able to hold LaSierra without a run to pick up the win.
Against Gustavus Adolphus offense was tough to come by for either squad, as the Bulldogs managed just four hits and Gustavus five. Defensively both teams were superb, playing error free softball.
Gustavus scored two runs in the second on a pair of hits and added an insurance run in the fourth. Amanda Hehn was tagged with the loss for the Bulldogs.
The first home action for Concordia is scheduled for March 20 against Briar Cliff at 5 p.m., at Plum Creek Park.
Ranked teams slow Bulldogs
12 MAR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team picked up a pair of wins on the final day of the Sun West Tournament in Orange, Calif., before dropping four straight to a pair of teams ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA.
The Bulldogs (4-7) downed Macalester College and the University of Wisc.-Platteville, 10-2 and 10-5 respectively during the final day of action at the Sun West Tournament. Tawny Bullerdick was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate and drove in two runs while Kendall Burgess went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs in the win over Macalester. Caitlin Lawrence earned the win on the mound.
Bullerdick finished with six hits on the day, going 3-for-4 in the win over UW-Platteville. Felicia Freitas added four hits, going 4-for-5, in the win. On the week Bullerdick hit .588 and had a slugging percentage of .706. Amanda Huckestein picked up the win on the mound, striking out six in six innings of work.
In the battle of Concordias, the Bulldogs fell a run short in each game, dropping a pair 3-2 and 4-3. In the opening game the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard early, scratching a run across in the first inning. Concordia-Irvine, ranked No. 10 in the latest NAIA Poll, tied the game in the fourth and took the lead for good in the fifth, plating a pair of runs. Sarah Bergen was tagged with the loss.
Irvine scored in the first and stretched their lead to three in the fourth inning of the second game, but the Bulldogs plated a run in the sixth and a pair in the seventh to knot the game at three, despite being out-hit by Ivrvine 13-3. Irvine was able to score the game winner in the bottom of the seventh.
The Bulldogs ran into a buzz saw as they took on the nations top ranked team, California Baptist on Thursday. Cal-Baptist made quick work of the Bulldogs, getting a pair of convincing victories, 17-1 and 9-0. Both games went five innings.
Despite ending the spring break trip with a few setbacks Head Coach Frank Greene is optimistic heading into conference play.
"We played some very tough competition thus far and had a chance to win a couple of games against top 10 teams," Greene said. "I think our early schedule prepares us well for the conference race."
The Bulldogs are scheduled play their home and conference opener on Tuesday, March 20 against Briar Cliff at Plum Creek Park. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
Bulldogs split in conference opener
20 MAR 2007
Junior Sarah Bergen tossed a one-hit shutout and sophomore Kendall Burgess had a grand slam to lead the Concordia University, Nebraska softball team to a win over Briar Cliff University in the second game of a doubleheader, 6-0, on Tuesday evening at Plum Creek Park in Seward.
Briar Cliff (9-7, 1-1 GPAC) rallied in the seventh to take the opening game of the twinbill, 4-2, to earn a split. The Chargers scored three runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of hits and two walks.
It was the home and conference opener for the Bulldogs who are now 5-8 (1-1 GPAC) on the season.
In game one, Amanda Hehn, who was tabbed with the loss, scattered five hits over six and a third innings, fanning five of the first seven batters she faced. The Chargers used a triple and a double to score the first run in the third for the early lead.
Concordia countered with a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Burgess to score Tawny Bullerdick who reached via a walk.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the fifth without the benefit of a hit in the inning. Concordia took advantage of three free passes and an error by the Chargers as Felicia Freitas scored on a passed ball.
In the second game, Bergen struck out at least two batters in five of the seven innings, finishing with 14 strikeouts. She struck out the side in the seventh to cap the one-hit performance.
Bergen had all the run support she would need after one inning of play thanks to Burgess' grand slam. It was the second homer of the season for the sophomore who is tied for the team lead in RBIs with nine.
Concordia added a pair of insurance runs in the third on an RBI single by catcher Charlotte Kaeding and a sacrifice fly by Samantha Hellbusch.
Bullerdick continued her recent hot-streak at the plate in the second game, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. On the season she is hitting a blistering .472 and leads the Bulldogs in hits with 17.
The Bulldogs continue their homestand with a non-conference doubleheader with Peru State on Wednesday, March 22 at 5 p.m.
Second split in as many days
21 MAR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team earned their second split in as many days on Wednesday in non-conference action against Peru State College. The Bulldogs fell short in a slugfest in game one, 15-6, before bouncing back to take the second game 3-2 in eight innings.
The two teams pounded out 30 hits in the opening game, but it was the Bobcats who had the advantage as four different players had two or more RBIs for Peru.
Concordia jumped out to the early lead, plating a pair of runs in the first, one on a double by Kendall Burgess, the other scoring on an error.
Peru countered with four runs in the third. During the inning the Bobcats had five hits. Peru put the game out of reach with a seven-run fifth, featuring six hits and one Bulldog error.
Concordia added runs in the fifth and sixth, but never seriously threatened the Bobcat lead down the stretch.
In the second game the Bulldogs sandwiched a hit between a pair of Bobcat errors in the second inning to score a pair of runs.
Another double by Burgess in the sixth plated Tawny Bullerdick to give the Bulldogs a three run leading.
Peru didn't go quietly, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. The Bobcats scored their three runs on just one hit in the inning, taking advantage of four walks and a pair of batters reaching on a fielders choice.
With the international tie breaker rule in effect in the eighth inning both squads started with a runner on second base. The Bulldogs were able to hold Peru scoreless in the top of the inning, as Amanda Huckestein induced a pair ground ball and a fly ball out.
In the bottom of the eight the Bulldogs moved the runner, Christy Jeppesen to third on a sacrifice bunt by Laura Fugate. Jeppesen then scored on a single by Rachel Simmons to end the game. Huckestein, who entered in relief of Amanda Hehn, picked up the win on the mound to run her record to 3-1.
Bullerdick continued her solid work from the plate, going 3-for-7 in the two games. Burgess added three RBIs and three hits on the night.
Bulldogs take one before weather stops play
24 MAR 2007
After a pair of splits earlier in the week the Concordia University, Nebraska softball team was on their way to a sweep as they defeated Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.), 7-1, in the opening game on Saturday in Mitchell, S.D., before the second game was called due to weather.
It took Concordia (7-9, 2-1 GPAC) four innings to score a run despite pounding out 11 hits in the win. Amanda Hehn scattered three Tiger hits to pick up a complete game win, her first of the season.
Kendall Burgess started off the Bulldog fourth with a double, one of four Concordia hits in the inning. A single by Rachel Mol scored Katie Jeppesen who came into run for Burgess. Samantha Hellbusch reached on a single and eventually scored on a throw. Hehn helped her own cause driving in the final run of the inning on a single to center.
Dakota Wesleyan scored their only run of the game in the fifth.
Concordia added a single run in the sixth on as Rebecca Shaffer reached on a fielder choice to score Hellbusch.
In the seventh inning the Bulldogs put the game out of reach with three runs all coming from the bat of Charlotte Kaeding. Kaeding homered to left, her first of the year, to give the Bulldogs a 7-1 cushion.
Hehn induced a pair of ground ball outs and struck out the final DWU batter to wrap up the victory.
The second game was called because of weather and will not be rescheduled per GPAC Softball By-Laws that state if a game is cancelled due to inclement weather the game will not be made up if the visiting team traveled over 100 miles.
The next action for the Bulldogs is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27 in Fremont, Neb., as Concordia will take on Midland Lutheran. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. Concordia has a non-conference doubleheader set for Wednesday against York College in York, before heading to Sioux City, Iowa, to compete in the Morningside Tournament where they will play five games.
Another 1-1 day for Bulldogs
27 MAR 2007
Junior Sarah Bergen picked up her third win of the year and sophomore Anne Royuk went 2-for-2 to lead the Concordia University, Nebraska softball team to a 6-4 win over Midland Lutheran College in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday night in Fremont, Neb.
The Bulldogs (8-10, 3-2 GPAC) continued to struggle in the first game of doubleheaders, dropping the opening game, 4-2, on a walk-off homerun by Midland (9-15, 1-1 GPAC).
In game one, Concordia took plated a pair of runs in the second inning to take the early lead. Amanda Hehn tripled to score Rebecca Shaffer who reached via a walk. Hehn then scored on a base knock by Laura Fugate.
Concordia held the Warriors scoreless through six innings as Hehn scattered two hits through six. Midland took advantage of a pair of walks in the bottom of the seventh.
Amanda Huckstein took over for Hehn on the mound after the walks, struck out the next batter and then induced a fly ball for the second out. The next hitter had a run-scoring single before Kate Schwarz ended the game with a walk-off homer, giving Midland the 4-2 victory.
Three different Bulldogs had multiple-hit games in the nightcap as the Bulldogs pounded out 10 hits en route to the win.
Offensively, junior Samantha Hellbusch drove in three runs, including a two-run single in the first, as the Bulldogs jumped out to an early three-run advantage. Hehn pinch hit in the fifth and drove in a pair of runs on a two-out single.
Royuk was perfect from the plate going 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of runs scored in just her second game back after a wrist injury sidelined her for the majority of the season. Kendall Burgess and Laura Fugate each added a pair of hits.
Sarah Bergen picked up the win after making two appearances in the game. Bergen pitched three and a third innings before Caitlyn Lawrence took the ball for an inning and a third. Bergen came back into the game in the sixth to get the final three outs.
Concordia is in action this weekend as they take part in the Morningside Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs will compete in five games during the two-day event.
Bulldogs win indoor game 11-1
30 -31 MAR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team made the most of their opportunities at the Morningside Invite over the weekend. The Bulldogs picked up a 11-1 win over University of Minnesota-Morris on Saturday at the Dakota Dome.
Originally the Bulldogs were scheduled to play three games on Saturday, but because of rain in Sioux City the schedule was cut and moved to the Dakota Dome in Yankton, S.D.
Concordia (11-12, 3-2 GPAC) also defeated the University of St. Mary (Kan.), 14-1, and the College of St. Mary (Neb.), 1-0, on Friday.
Against the University of St. Mary the Bulldogs pounded out 16 hits en route to the win. Eight different Concordia players had hits in the game, including four with multiple hit games.
Anne Royuk and Kendall Burgess led the offensive attack with three hits each. Royuk was a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs while Burgess went 3-for-4 with a home run. Burgess now has dingers on the year and leads the team with 20 RBIs.
Samantha Hellbusch and Tawny Bullerdick each added a pair of hits. Bullerdick drove in a pair of runs while Hellbusch scored twice.
Sarah Bergen picked up her fourth win of the season, scattering four hits over four and two-thirds innings. Amanda Huckestein finished out the game, striking out one.
On Saturday the Bulldog continued their offensive onslaught with 11 runs on thirteen hits in just four innings against Minnesota-Morris. Because of the tight time schedule in the Dakota Dome the teams played a 10-run rule after four innings.
Rachel Mol paced the Bulldog attack, going 2-for-2 from the plate and scoring twice. Burgess had another multiple hit game, including another homer, as she drove in five runs.
Amanda Hehn earned the win on the mound, fanning three while giving up just one hit in two innings of work. Caitlin Lawrence pitched the final two innings.
Concordia have a pair of games in the upcoming week, as they travel to Hastings College on April 4 for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. before returning to Plum Creek Park to host Northwestern in a twinbill on April 5 at 5p.m.
Two go yard as Bulldogs split
4 APR 2007
In cold conditions two different Bulldogs had three-run homers to lead the Concordia University, Nebraska softball team to a split with Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Hastings College. Concordia dropped the opening game, 6-1, before erupting for a 12-0 win in five innings in game two.
Concordia (12-13, 4-3 GPAC) continues to struggle in opening games of doubleheaders, winning just once (vs. Dakota Wesleyan) in six tries. Incidentally, game two of the Dakota Wesleyan game was cancelled due to weather.
In the opening game against Hastings the Bulldogs stranded eight and had just three base runners advance past second base. The Broncos on the other took the lead early on a three-run blast off the bat of Chelsey Woodside.
Amanda Hehn was tagged with the loss on the mound for Concordia.
In the second game it was Concordia who scored early and often, plating three runs in the second inning, three in the third and six runs in the fourth. Half of the runs scored by the Bulldogs came via the long ball, as Rachel Mol opened the scoring with a three-run dinger in the second.
Charlotte Kaeding sealed the win with a three-run shot over the fence in the fourth. For the game, Concordia had 11 hits as a team and played error free in the field. In all, five different Bulldogs finished with multiple hit games including Laura Fugate, Kendall Burgess, Samantha Hellbusch along with Mol and Kaeding.
Burgess continues to lead the Bulldogs from the dish, hitting .403 for the season with 23 RBIs and four home runs.
Sarah Bergen picked up the win for Concordia, scattering four hits and striking out four in just five innings of work.
The Bulldogs begin a busy homestand on April 10 against Dana College. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. at Plum Creek Park. Concordia will play six home doubleheaders in the next nine days, wrapping up on April 18 as they take on Nebraska Wesleyan.
Clean sweep. Bulldogs 4-0 on weekend
13-14 ARP 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team got a pair of complete games from junior Sarah Bergen and another by senior Amanda Hehn as the Bulldogs made it a clean sweep over the weekend, taking two games each from Dordt College (3-0, 9-1) and the University of Sioux Falls (9-1, 10-3) on Friday and Saturday at Plum Creek Park.
Concordia (16-13, 8-3 GPAC) is now in fourth place in the conference standings with six conference doubleheaders remaining.
In addition to solid pitching, the Bulldogs rallied behind the bat of sophomore Kendal Burgess. Over the four-game stretch the Concordia first basemen/catcher drove in nine runs while going 9-for-12 from the plate with four doubles and a pair of homers. Dordt was the victim of each of Burgess' towering shots as she had two-run dinger in each game.
In the opening game against Dordt on Friday, a 3-0 victory for Concordia, Bergen scattered three Defender hits in the complete-game shutout. In fact, the junior allowed only two base runners to advance past second the entire game.
Hehn followed up the Bergen's performance with a strong pitching effort of her own, limiting Dordt to just four hits in the second game which was shortened to six innings due to the run rule. The lone run that did cross the plate reached on an error.
Burgess ended the game in the sixth with a walk-off two-run homer, giving the Bulldogs the 9-1 victory.
Against Sioux Falls the Bulldogs picked up where they left off on Friday, pounding out 12 hits in another 9-1 victory in five innings. All but one starter had a hit in the opening game of the twinbill.
At the plate, Concordia had 24 hits in the doubleheader with Sioux Falls. The Bulldogs had three different players with multiple-hit games in the second game versus USF, including Laura Fugate, Burgess and Rachel Mol.
The Bulldogs host Bellevue University in a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday before returning to conference play on Wednesday as Nebraska Wesleyan comes to Plum Creek Park for a 5 p.m. twinbill.
#19 Bruins take two from Bulldogs
17 APR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team dropped a pair of one-run games to Bellevue University on Tuesday evening. The Bruins, rated No. 19 in the latest NAIA Poll, downed the Bulldogs 6-5 in the opening game and 5-4 in the nightcap.
Concordia (16-15, 8-3 GPAC) led by a run going into the seventh inning of game one, but an error coupled with three walks and a hit batter forced a pair of runs across for Bellevue.
The Bulldogs were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the inning as they were retried in order. Amanda Hehn was tagged with the loss after entering in relief of Sarah Bergen.
Offensively in the opening game the Bulldogs scored a run in the first and second on a pair of errors by the Bruins. In the fifth Concordia's bats came alive, stringing together three consecutive hits, including a double by Amanda Huckestein to drive in a pair of runs.
In game two the Bulldogs found themselves at a disadvantage early as Bellevue jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning of play. Both squads plated a run in the second, making the score 4-1.
Concordia pulled within a run, 4-3, after a two-run fourth inning. Rebecca Shaffer had a sacrifice fly to score Huckestein followed by a run scoring single by Hehn to help her own cause.
The Bruins added an insurance run in the top of the fifth. It looked as if the Bulldogs had taken the lead on what would have been a three-run home run by Huckestein in the bottom of the fifth but it was ruled the ball hit the fence, then rolled under for a ground-rule double. Christy Jeppesen did score on the play, but Rachel Mol was forced to stay at third and the next batter grounded out to end the threat.
Concordia is back in action on Wednesday as they host Nebraska Wesleyan in a GPAC contest. First pitch of the doubleheader is schedule for 5 p.m. at Plum Creek Park.
Bulldogs snap streak; Hehn tosses no-hitter
20-21 APR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team snapped a six-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of Mount Marty College, 7-0 and 8-2 in 10 innings, on Saturday in Yankton, S.D. Amanda Hehn highlighted the weekend, tossing a no-hitter in the opening game against the Lancers.
Concordia (18-19, 10-7 GPAC) dropped a pair of games on Friday to Morningside College, 9-1 in five innings before dropping an extra inning game 3-1 in the second game.
The Bulldog losing streak included a pair of loses to Nebraska Wesleyan on Tuesday at Plum Creek Park. NWU had 12 hits in a game one win, 9-5 over the Bulldogs. A three-run homer by Terrin Wurdeman in the third inning put the Wolves on top, 5-1.
On Friday the Bulldogs played even softball through eight innings in game two against Morningside before the Mustangs picked up their second win of the day thanks to a walk-off homer, a two-run blast, off the bat of Kendra Klein.
Concordia's lone run of the game was scored on a solo shot to left by Rachel Mol in the fifth inning.
On Saturday the Bulldogs turned things around, taking a pair from the Lancers of Mount Marty.
In the opening game senior Amanda Hehn tossed a no-hitter, striking out nine in the complete game shutout. Hehn allowed just three baserunners, two via walk, and the other on an error. She had a strike out in every inning except one.
Laura Fugate led the Bulldogs at the plate in the victory, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Tawny Bullerdick also had a multiple hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In the second game neither team was able to score after the fifth inning. Tied at two after seven complete innings the teams struggled to score runs. Concordia erupted after the drought, scoring six runs in the top of the tenth inning. The Bulldogs had six hits in the inning and RBIs by Bullerdick, Fugate, Samantha Hellbusch and Rebecca Shaffer.
The Bulldogs have three conference doubleheaders remaining, all conference games, before the GPAC tournament. Next up for Concordia is Doane College. That game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24 at 3 p.m., weather permitting. A schedule note, the non-conference game versus York College on May 1 has been cancelled.
Bulldogs earn split on "Senior Day"
28 APR 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team picked up a split with Northwestern College on Saturday at Plum Creek Park in Seward, Neb. The Bulldogs won the opening game 6-1 before seeing a three run lead disappear as the Red Raiders took game two, 7-6.
In the opening game Concordia (19-20, 11-8 GPAC) never trailed as they scored two runs in the second for the early advantage. That proved to be all the Bulldogs would have needed as senior pitcher Amanda Hehn scattered five Northwestern hits over seven innings, striking out seven for the win.
Offensively the Bulldogs added four runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Freshman leadoff-hitter Luara Fugate went 2-for-3 from the plate and scored once. Tawny Bullerdick also had a multi-hit game, scoring twice and driving in a pair of runs.
On "Senior Day" at Plum Creek Park, another senior continued her timely hitting, as Rebecca Shaffer was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
In the second game Northwestern built a 3-0 lead through four and a half innings. Then the Concordia bats game to life, as the Bulldogs plated six runs in the fifth on six hits and one Red Raider error. Shaffer, Rachel Mol and Felicia Freitas all had RBIs during the rally.
Northwestern pulled within a run after two runs in the sixth on a pair of hits. Then in the top of the seventh the Red Raiders took advantage of two Bulldog miscues and a walk to score another pair of runs, and what proved to be the game winner.
The Bulldogs managed to get a base runner in the bottom of the inning, but were unable to come up with the tying run.
Concordia wraps up the regular season with a pair of doubleheaders on Monday and Tuesday, both which are make-up games from earlier in the season. On Monday the Bulldogs are scheduled to play host to Dana College at 5 p.m. before traveling to Crete, Neb., to take on the Doane College Tigers on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
At this point the highest seed the Bulldogs could get in the GPAC postseason tournament is the fifth seed.
Bulldogs fifth seed in GPAC Tournament
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team is the fifth seed in the 2007 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament, being played this Thursday and Friday at the SYA Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa (Riverside).
The Bulldogs (22-21, 14-9 GPAC) will play four-seed Midland Lutheran College (24-24, 16-8 GPAC) at 2 p.m. on field two at the SYA Complex. Earlier this year the two teams split a doubleheader in Fremont, Neb.
If Concordia wins, they'll play either top-seed Morningside College (40-9, 19-5 GPAC) or eight-seed Briar Cliff University at 4 p.m. on field two.
Morningside won the GPAC title thanks in part to a pair of wins by the Bulldogs over Dana College, who was on top of the standings. Dana could have claimed a share of the conference title had they either split with the Bulldogs or swept Nebraska Wesleyan.
On the other side of the bracket, second-seed Northwestern faces seventh-seed Hastings while third-seed Dana takes on six-seed Dakota Wesleyan.
Concordia has never won the GPAC Tournament, but was the regular season champion in 2005 and runner-up in 2006.
Take two: Bulldogs unbeaten at GPAC Tournament
3 MAY 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team picked up a pair of wins, defeating Midland Lutheran College, 8-0, and Briar Cliff University, 4-1, during the first day of the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament. The double-elimination tournament is being played at the SYA Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa (Riverside).
Concordia (24-21) and Dana College are the only undefeated teams remaining in the GPAC Tournament and will meet on Friday at Noon in the winner's bracket game. The winner will advance to the conference title game at 4 p.m.
Concordia pulled a mild upset in the opening game of the tournament with a 8-0 win over Midland Lutheran. The Bulldogs broke the game open early with a three-run second inning that featured a two-run double by Rebecca Shaffer.
Samantha Hellbusch helped to put the game out of reach with a two-run single in the seventh. Hellbusch, Charlotte Kaeding, and Tawny Bullerdick all had two hits for the Bulldogs. Kaeding had a pair of RBIs with a triple in the third inning and a single in the fifth.
Amanda Hehn fanned 10 Warrior hitters en route to a four-hit shutout. Hehn proved a factor in the second game as well, picking up her second save of the year.
In the second game the Bulldogs took on the No. 8 seed, Briar Cliff, who upset top-seeded Morningside, 2-1. The Chargers of Briar Cliff took the early advantage over Concordia, scoring a run in the second inning on a two-out double by Kashe Manley.
The Bulldogs took the lead for good with a two-run third inning. Concordia plated a pair of runs, one on a RBI single by Anne Royuk, the other via a sacrifice fly by Kendall Burgess.
Concordia added a pair of insurance runs with a RBI triple by Royuk in the fourth inning and a RBI double by Laura Fugate in the sixth. Fugate was 2-for-3 from the plate with a triple and double. Kaeding also had a multi-hit game with a triple and single.
Winning pitcher Sarah Bergen allowed one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts before yielding to relief help from Hehn in the seventh. Hehn, who took over with the tying run at the plate, retired both batters she faced, including one by strikeout.
Other teams remaining in the GPAC Tournament include Midland Lutheran and Briar Cliff in the loser's bracket with 2-1 marks. Teams eliminated from the tournament thus far are Morningside and Dakota Wesleyan, each with 0-2 records. Northwestern and Hastings exited the tournament with 1-2 records.
Bulldogs win GPAC Softball Tournament
4 MAY 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team cruised to the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) tournament championship on Friday with an 11-2 win in five innings over the Dana College Vikings at the SYA Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa (Riverside). It marks the first GPAC tournament title for the Bulldogs.
The fifth seeded Bulldogs (26-21) finished the GPAC tournament with a perfect record of 4-0, picking up wins over Midland Lutheran, Briar Cliff and Dana twice. In addition, Head Coach Frank Greene reached a milestone during the tournament, notching his 200th and 201st career wins.
Senior Amanda Hehn tossed a three-hit shutout as Concordia defeated Dana in the opening game of the day to advance to the title game, 6-0. Hehn had at least one strike out in each inning, including striking out the side to end the game. In all, she fanned 11 Dana batters.
In the first win over Dana the Bulldogs pounded out 11 hits, including four in a three-run third inning. Freshman second baseman Laura Fugate led Concordia, going 3-for-4 from the plate with a RBI and a run scored. Junior Samantha Hellbusch and sophomore Rachel Mol also had multi-hit games for Concordia. Hellbusch drove in a pair of runs, going 2-for-3. Mol scored twice and had an RBI double in the sixth.
Dana had just one baserunner advance past second in the game. Josi Barrow had two of the Vikings three hits. The Vikings won the loser's bracket championship, defeating Midland 1-0, advancing to face the Bulldogs again.
In the title game the Bulldogs success at the plate continued, reaching double digits in hits (10) for the third time in four games. In all, seven different Bulldogs recorded hits in the game. Charlotte Kaeding, Kendall Burgess and Hellbusch each had two hits.
The Bulldogs plated four runs in the first inning taking advantage of five walks. All four runs were walked in by the Vikings who issued five free passes in the inning. Dana answered with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning.
A double by Burgess in the second inning drove in Hellbusch who singled to center, stretching the Bulldog advantage to 5-1.
Concordia put the game out of reach in the third, scoring six runs on five hits. Burgess and Hellbusch each drove in a pair of runs on singles during the offensive spurt. Anne Royuk and Rebecca Shaffer also added RBIs in the inning.
Junior Sarah Bergen picked up the win on the mound, scattering four Viking hits over five innings, striking out two en route to her eleventh win of the year.
Offensively, Burgess paced the Bulldogs (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 BB) with her tenth multiple RBI game of the season. Hellbusch scored three times while going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Bulldogs now advance to the NAIA Region III tournament May 9-12 in Dickinson, N.D., where they are the seventh seed.
Bulldogs bounced from postseason play
9 MAY 2007
The Concordia University, Nebraska softball team was bounced from postseason play on Wednesday, dropping a pair of games, 1-0 to Morningside and 5-3 to Dana at the NAIA Region III Tournament in Dickinson, N.D.
With the setbacks, Concordia was eliminated from the tournament and ends the year with a 26-23 record. The Bulldogs dropped both games despite out-hitting each opponent.
In the opening game, the Bulldogs stranded eight runners, in the 1-0 loss to Morningside, including leaving the bags loaded in fourth innings.
Senior Amanda Hehn allowed just six Mustang baserunners and four hits in seven innings of work. The lone Morningside run came in third inning. The Mustangs had three of their four hits in the inning, including a leadoff double and a RBI single.
For the game the Bulldogs had two more hits than the Mustangs. Junior Tawny Bullerdick finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, getting singles in the fourth and sixth innings.
With the loss the Bulldogs were forced into the loser's bracket where they matched up with Dana College for the fifth time in 10 days. The Vikings lost in the opening round to Jamestown, 4-3, in eight innings.
Dana took the early lead on a two-run homer by GPAC player of the year Josie Barrow in the third inning.
Concordia answered with a run in the top of the fourth. Bullerdick started the inning with a double and then scored on a two-out RBI single by pitcher Sarah Bergen.
After a quick fourth inning by Bergen the Bulldog bats went back to work in the fifth, plating a pair of runs on back-to-back home runs by sophomores Kendall Burgess and Charlotte Kaeding.
Dana countered with three runs, two unearned, in the bottom of the fifth taking advantage of a Bulldog miscue.
The Bulldogs were unable to mount any sort of a rally the rest of the way, managing just one baserunner in the final two innings.
Playing their final games as Bulldogs were pitcher Amanda Hehn, designated player Rebecca Shaffer and outfielder Katie Jeppesen.
Outfielder earns weekly GPAC honor
Tawny Bullerdick, a member of the Concordia University, Nebraska softball team, was recognized as the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) / Hauff Mid-America Sports Softball Player-of-the-Week.
Bullerdick, a junior from Anaheim, Calif., hit .588 during a six-game span for Concordia. During that stretch the Bulldogs played four games against top 10 teams, including a pair against the nation's top rated team, California Baptists.
The junior transfer from Fullerton Community college led the Bulldogs with 10 hits in 17 at-bats. She also scored three runs, added five RBIs, and had a stolen base for the Bulldogs. Her slugging percentage for the week was .706.
"Tawny has made an impact immediately for us," said Head Coach Frank Greene. "In addition to her success at the plate she played error free in the outfield."
Six earn GPAC honors on diamond
Six different players from the Concordia University, Nebraska softball team were honored on 2007 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-Conference team. The list, released on Monday afternoon, consists of 18 first-team members, 18 second-team members and an honorable mention list.
Junior shortstop Samantha Hellbusch was named to the first-team while senior pitcher Amanda Hehn, junior outfielder Tawny Bullerdick, sophomore utility player Kendall Burgess and freshman second baseman Laura Fugate were tabbed as second-team selections. Sarah Bergen was named honorable mention.
Hellbusch (Creston, Neb.), had a batting average of .356 on the season driving in 23 runs on 47 hits. She also was had seven stolen bases. Defensively she had a fielding percentage of .910. This is the second consecutive year she has been a first-team All-GPAC selection.
Hehn (Fort Collins, Colo.) was part of a potent Concordia pitching staff, striking out 151 batters in 127.2 innings of work. Opposing teams are hitting just .194 against Hehn.
Bullerdick (Anaheim, Calif.), a junior college transfer, impacted the Bulldog lineup immediately. She finished with the second highest batting average on the team (.377). She also drove in 21 runs, and drew 16 walks.
Burgess (Houston, Texas), who split time catching and playing first led the Bulldogs in a variety of categories including batting average (.402), slugging percentage (.697), RBIs (43) and extra-base hits (23) - 16 doubles, six home runs and a triple.
Fugate (North Platte, Neb.) batted leadoff for the Bulldogs and led the team with 54 hits. She was third on the team in on base percentage (.425) and scored a team-high 37 runs. Defensively, she had just seven errors in 160 attempts.
Bergen (St. Charles, Mo.) led the team in wins on the mound with a record of 11-5. She also helped her own cause, going .308 from the plate driving in six runs.
Hellbusch named to NAIA Region III Team
Concordia University, Nebraska junior shortstop Samantha Hellbusch has been named to the 2007 NAIA All-Region III Softball Team. The team is made up of 18 individuals from NAIA Region III which includes team from the GPAC and the Dakota Athletic Conference.
This marks the second consecutive season that Hellbusch, the former Columbus Lakeview Viqueen and Creston, Neb., native has been named to the team.
In 47 games, she hit .341 with five doubles, three homers and 23 RBIs. In addition she was third on the team in runs scored (32) and totaled 47 hits, 63 total bases and drew 15 walks. She also recorded seven stolen bases in just eight attempts.
In the field, she played a part in 156 outs for the Bulldogs, finishing the season with a .907 fielding percentage.