SEWARD, Neb. – The head coaching debut is drawing near for Tatum Edwards, who is eager to unveil the 2022 edition of Concordia University Softball. The Bulldogs will get the season started within the state of Kansas with a doubleheader at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth on Saturday and another twin bill at Benedictine College in Atchison on Sunday. Both foes are repeat opponents from the 2021 nonconference slate.
Opening Weekend
Saturday, Feb. 19 at Saint Mary (0-1), 1 p.m. DH
-Live Video | Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2
Sunday, Feb. 20 at Benedictine (2-0), 12 p.m. DH
-Live Video
For those who followed Concordia last season, names such as starters in outfielder Caitlyn McGarvie, pitcher Camry Moore, second baseman Kylee Nixon and first baseman Julia Van Wey will be familiar. McGarvie and Moore both landed on the All-GPAC first team in 2021. Moore is coming off a season that saw her hit .386 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs and go 20-6 with a 1.78 ERA in 157 innings as a pitcher. The aforementioned veterans will be leaned upon as the Bulldogs continue to work on replacing five starting position players from the ’21 squad that reached the national tournament.
The losses due to graduation leave plenty of opportunities for newcomers. Potential impact newcomers include the likes of third baseman Hanna Bowers, outfielder Lex Campos, catcher Taylor Glause and infielder Kylie Shottenkirk, among others. Their arrivals will help make up for the loss of two of the top hitters in program history, Hhana Haro and Tori Homolka, on the left side of the infield.
Edwards became the program’s sixth head coach during the GPAC era. In previous stops as an assistant, Edwards worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Purdue University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. As a star Cornhusker student-athlete, Edwards twice earned All-America honors and was named the 2013 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. Edwards’ staff at Concordia includes graduate assistants Bre Hamilton, Tristen Edwards (younger sister) and Alan Moore.
Early last season, Concordia went a combined 3-0 against Benedictine and Saint Mary. The wins over Benedictine were tight – 6-4 and 3-2 (eight innings). In the season 2021 season opener in Atchison, Moore notched a career high 15 strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs run-ruled Saint Mary, 9-0, as part of the Friends Invitational. So far this season, Saint Mary (13-32 record in 2021) is 0-1 with a loss to Briar Cliff. Benedictine (32-22 record in 2021) is 2-0 with two one-run wins over Doane.
After wrapping up this weekend’s action, the Bulldogs hope to host Mayville State University (N.D.) in doubleheaders on Feb. 25-26. Recently, opponents and game times were announced for the 2022 Friends Invitational set to run March 4-5. The complete schedule can be found HERE.