UPDATE: Game two of the Concordia-CSM doubleheader has officially been declared a tie.
SEWARD, Neb. – Thunderstorms caused a delay and a hasty evacuation of Plum Creek Park on Saturday (April 25) as the Concordia University, Nebraska Softball team celebrated its senior day. Before the rain and hail poured down, the Bulldogs rolled to a 9-1, run-rule shortened victory in game one over College of Saint Mary. Due to lightning in the area, game two was suspended in the top of the seventh with the scored tied, 3-3. It was an especially fine day for senior Tobi Topp, who raked with four hits, including a home run.
Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad (22-18, 11-10 GPAC) could play free and loose on Saturday knowing its GPAC tournament seeding would not be affected in any significant manner. Other than the lack of a conclusion to game two, senior day weekend was a success.
“Game one, I thought Deni (Kaylei Denison) set the tone for us,” Culler said. “She pitched really well. Our defense played really well behind her. It was good to see our offense go off like that and keep the momentum from (the sweep of) Doane (on Wednesday) … We had our senior banquet last night. It’s just a good group of human beings. We’re really blessed to have them. They’ve steered this program in the right direction. They deserve a lot of that credit. They stayed committed to establishing and maintaining a culture. It was an emotional day for sure.”
Everything went as scripted in game one. In the circle, Denison covered all five innings with one run allowed on four hits and two walks (to go with four strikeouts). Behind her, the defense was superb. Third baseman Bailey Merritt started double plays in both the second and third innings in support of Denison. On the other side, runs hailed down on the Flames as the Bulldogs paraded around the bases with 13 hits.
With her parents in town from Canada this week, the Iowa Central transfer Topp put on a show. She went 3-for-3 with a double and home run in game one. Her two-run blast in the third (fourth of the season) extended Concordia’s lead to 4-1. Laycee Josoff later added on with a solo shot in the fifth. Additionally, run-scoring singles were delivered by Taryn Ganstrom, Aubriana Krieser and Avery O’Boyle. Kriser and O’Boyle notched two hits apiece in the victory.
Between games, Topp was joined in a special recognition by fellow seniors in Addy Dean, Taryn Ganstrom, Emma Kirby, Isabella Wolter, Aubrey Wright and Grace Zaugg. During a delay in Saturday’s action, Topp reflected on senior day weekend.
Said Topp in describing her experience at Concordia, “Honestly, just pure bliss. It’s been one of the best choices I’ve ever made. I’ve met people who have changed my life and teammates who are my sisters. It’s been really good.”
A feel-good moment occurred in the sixth inning of game two when Wolter entered in the circle for her first varsity appearance of the season. Wolter set CSM down in order, finishing the frame with a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch. The Bulldogs were also retired in order in the sixth, just before the impending storm halted the game and left the gathered crowd scurrying.
In Saturday’s second game, leadoff hitter Mary Beth Hart went 2-for-4. She tied the game in the fourth with an RBI single, erasing what had been a 3-0 Concordia deficit. Prior to Hart’s base hit, Merritt doubled home Josoff and Krieser. The Flames had built a lead with the help of Kynzee McFadden’s two-run homer in the third. Freshman Kierstyn Linn threw 5.1 innings (6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB) as the Bulldogs’ starting pitcher in game two.
CSM (8-30, 4-17 GPAC) ended its season, falling short of reaching the GPAC tournament. Meanwhile, Concordia takes momentum into the postseason having outscored its opponents by a combined total of 33-8 in the regular season’s final week.
Said Culler of the momentum that was built, “It’s really big. Our players believe they can beat anybody on any given day. We have the right offense, our pitching is improving and our defense is playing at a high level. They see it. They feel it. They’re very confident in their abilities and this team.”
Officially, Saturday’s second game remains suspended. The Bulldogs will be the GPAC’s No. 6 or 7 seed, pending the result of another suspended game between Dordt and Briar Cliff. Those two sides have agreed to resume their game (8-2 Dordt lead in the bottom of the fifth) on Monday, according to Briar Cliff’s official X account. Official pairings for the GPAC tournament will be announced once the regular season is complete.