SEWARD, Neb. – Tobi Topp’s first game three-RBI hack gave the Bulldogs the initial contest, 4-2, on Saturday (April 11). Meanwhile, Concordia University, Nebraska Softball dropped, 7-5, in the second outing in a back-and-forth offensive struggle with the Red Raiders. The offense showed out with 18 hits in the two contests in a split.
Head Coach Brock Culler and the Dawgs settle at 17-14 overall and 6-6 in the GPAC.
“I have really been challenging our kids since Mount Marty,” Coach Culler said. “Deni threw so well in game one. I got to give her props. In both games, we played really well defensively. Tobi had a big home run in the first inning. Runs were really hard to come by today, especially until midway through game two. Give us one or two more hits and we probably get two today. We are going to continue doing the things we have been doing. It is a process, especially when you have a young pitching staff. They are good kids. They work hard and they get it.”
Northwestern came out with a two-run inning in game one. The Bulldogs, looking to respond, found an answer with Topp’s knock over the right field wall to plate three runs and take the lead. Concordia would not give up another notch on the scoreboard with superior defense (one error) compared to the Red Raiders’ six. Topp hit her third home run of the season with the barrel.
Kaylei Denison gave up zero runs, four hits and two walks in the remaining six frames after the opener. The Waverly, Neb., native has a 9-8 record and a 3.55 ERA on the season.
Mary Beth Hart capped her day with three hits (3-for-8) and three runs scored. In the initial contest, she cracked a two and three bagger. Avery O’Boyle went 2-for-4 scoring an RBI on her day (game one).
In game two, the Bulldogs drew first blood with a run in the second and fourth via Topp (two runs) and Aubriana Krieser (RBI double). The two both matched each other with each hitting a double and single apiece.
Northwestern answered on the back of a Kavri Van Kekerix three-run homer to go up in the top of the sixth (5-3). Despite 11 hits in the second performance, the Bulldogs couldn’t catch the visitors in the final six outs. Four Concordia players ended with two hits including Krieser (2-for-2), Grace Maguire (2-for-3), Topp (2-for-4) and Ganstrom (2-for-4). Aubrey Wight went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Kierstyn Linn held a talented Red Raiders squad to two runs in the first five frames, but NWC finally made the freshman pay late to take the lead. Linn ended giving up four earned runs on four hits with one walk in five innings.
Concordia (17-14, 6-6 GPAC) will face No. 22 Midland (26-10, 8-2 GPAC) up next in Fremont. The Bulldogs will take the field on Tuesday (April 14) at 2 p.m. CT.