SEWARD, Neb. – The hope is for this to be the weekend that the Concordia University Softball team breaks out of its funk and rediscovers some offensive juice. The Bulldogs had a tough go of it last week while hosting the league’s top two rated squads. Concordia fell at the hands of Midland by scores of 7-0 and 8-1 on April 7 and then was defeated by No. 13 Northwestern, 6-0 and 8-3, on April 8. Northwestern (8-0 GPAC) and Midland (6-0 GPAC) enter this week as the frontrunners atop the GPAC standings. Meanwhile, Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad sits at 12-21 overall (1-9 GPAC). The Bulldogs have shifted their focus to this weekend’s trip north for doubleheaders against Jamestown and Dakota Wesleyan.
This Week
Friday, April 14 at Jamestown (14-11, 0-2 GPAC), 2 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.)
--NOTE: The location was moved to Aberdeen, S.D., due to unplayable conditions in Jamestown.
Saturday, April 15 at Dakota Wesleyan (6-23, 1-9 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: G1 – G2 | Location: Cadwell Park (Mitchell, S.D.)
By the numbers
· To be sure, the results have not matched the expectations Concordia had coming into conference play. The Bulldogs rallied to win their GPAC opener, 2-1, over Morningside on March 25. Since then, Concordia has dropped nine in a row within conference play. It has been swept in league doubleheaders by Doane, Hastings, Midland and Northwestern. There are three GPAC teams with undefeated league records: Northwestern (8-0), Midland (6-0) and Dordt (4-0). In the preseason, the Bulldogs were pegged eighth in the GPAC coaches’ poll. Currently, Massey Ratings lists Concordia as ranked No. 122 in the NAIA (out of 213 teams). Its strength of schedule is rated 75th nationally.
· The quest to rediscover offensive production continues for the Bulldogs, who were held to a combined four runs last week against the top two teams in the league. Concordia was no-hit by Midland’s Aliyah Rincon in the first game of the weekend and finished with 14 total hits (.139 batting average) over the four-game homestand. At long last, the Bulldogs showed signs of life in the sixth inning of game two versus Northwestern. In that frame, RBI hits were delivered by Hanna Bowers (double), Taylor Glause (double) and Caitlyn McGarvie (single). The lone run Concordia managed against Midland came with the help of an error. Defensive miscues were an issue for the Bulldogs, who committed a season high seven errors in game one versus Midland.
· At the top of the lineup, Kylie Shottenkirk enjoyed the most success over the weekend. She went 4-for-12 with a double and three walks while scoring two of the team’s four runs. The Lincoln North Star High School product has moved to second base recently while Bowers flipped to shortstop. On the season, Shottenkirk is hitting .350 with a .425 on-base percentage, .520 slugging percentage, three home runs and 20 RBIs. In two seasons, Shottenkirk has hit .329 with five homers and 43 RBIs (79 games). Meanwhile, Bowers is hitting a team high .352, giving Concordia a strong middle of the infield.
· The struggles offensively have prevented Megan Eurich from notching any wins in recent action, but the sophomore from Gretna, Neb., continues to be rock solid in the circle. She’s fired complete games in three-straight outings. On the year, Eurich is 8-7 with a 3.29 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 100 innings. She put together a competitive outing versus Midland in surrendering four earned runs on eight hits and one walk (seven strikeouts). Some defensive miscues played a role in the Warriors running away with a 7-1 win in that contest. Eurich has been given the ball routinely in game one of GPAC doubleheaders. This past weekend, Eurich, Jerzi Rowe and Brooke Townsend each saw action in the circle.
· Earlier this season, Caitlyn McGarvie reached 100 hits for her career (currently at 119). Some other Bulldog veterans are approaching that number. Taylor Glause has collected 99 career hits when factoring in her 2021 season spent at Cloud County Community College. In addition, junior Julia Van Wey has posted 90 hits in 109 career games at Concordia. In the program’s history, there have been 16 players that have eclipsed 150 career hits. The school record remains 227 hits by Mindy (Evans) Miller. Two others have reached 200 hits: Clarissa Eloge (208) and Hhana Haro (205). This past weekend, former Bulldog Camry Moore went past 200 career hits while playing her final collegiate season at Doane.
· Outside of league play, Concordia tallied more than five runs in nine separate games. It has not yet hit six runs in any GPAC game in 2023. So far in conference play, the Bulldogs are hitting .165 with only eight extra-base hits. The meager numbers are the result of slumps for several of the team’s top hitters. Concordia hopes its breakout in the bottom of the sixth of its most recent game is the start of a hot streak. The Bulldogs will also attempt to find traction at home, where they are 1-9 this season.
The opponents
Entering the week, Jamestown has played only two conference games, meaning the schedule for the month of April will be a logjam. Before taking on Concordia on Friday, the Jimmies will play at College of Saint Mary on Monday and at Mount Marty on Tuesday. Those facts make it hard to get a read on the Jimmies, who were picked fourth in the GPAC preseason poll. Head Coach Kevin Gall’s squad finished last season at 23-24-1 overall (10-11-1 GPAC). The team’s top hitter so far this season has been Trinity Gregg, who is batting .358 with six doubles. Through its first 24 games, Jamestown has averaged 5.5 runs per game and sports a team ERA of 4.74.
Dakota Wesleyan has the same 1-9 GPAC record also owned by Concordia. The Tigers are led by first-year Head Coach Tommy Downs, who takes over a program coming off a 15-29 overall record (7-15 GPAC) in 2022. DWU returns First Team All-GPAC outfielder Alyssa Burke, who is hitting .378 with eight RBIs. The team’s most counted upon pitcher has been Meghan Daffern, who is 4-8 with a 6.30 ERA in 83.1 innings. The Tigers’ one GPAC victory to this point came at home over Mount Marty. Before hosting the Bulldogs, DWU will welcome Midland to town on Friday.
Next week
The Bulldogs will close out the home portion of their schedule the weekend of April 21-22 when they are set to host Briar Cliff and Mount Marty. Concordia will honor its senior class on April 22.