Bulldogs suffer consecutive losses to Bethany College
The Concordia University, Nebraska, softball suffered back-to-back losses to Bethany College on Friday, March 30. Bethany took the first game 3-2, then downed the Bulldogs 7-1 in game two.
Following Friday's doubleheader, Concordia is 10-10 on the year. Bethany meanwhile, moved to 23-7.
Game One: Bethany 3, Concordia 2
The Bulldogs jumped out in front in the third on an unearned run. Sophomore Shelby Morose (Claremore, Okla.) lifted a single down the left field line that send sophomore Kelsey Timmerman (O'Neill, Neb. ) from first to third. A bobble by Bethany's Emily Causey allowed Timmerman to come all the way around and give Concordia a 1-0 lead.
Bethany answered back on a solo home run from Kelli Traffas in the fourth and an RBI single from Brittany Lewis in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead into the seventh.
In the final frame with two outs and freshman Molly Madsen (Thornton, Colo.) at second base, junior Natalie Svoboda (Lincoln, Neb.) ripped a game-tying single to center field.
Unfortunately the Swedes responded with three hits in the both half of the seventh, the game winner an RBI bunt single by Traffas.
Concordia senior Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.) took the loss (7-4), allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks in 6.1 innings.
Bethany's Jennifer Garcia moved to 9-5 on the season with the win. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking out eight Bulldogs.
Game Two: Bethany 7, Concordia 1
For the second straight game, the Bulldogs grabbed an early lead. Svoboda was hit by a pitch to start the game. She went to second and third on wild pitches by Bethany starter Hollind Englert, then came around to score on a two-out RBI single by Alyssa Bauwens (Perryville, Mo.). Unfortunately Bauwens' single proved to be the only hit of the game for the Bulldogs.
Bethany pulled even with a single run in the bottom of the first and took control of the game late with a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and two insurance runs in the sixth.
Concordia sophomore Amanda Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) suffered the loss (3-6), allowing five runs on nine hits in five innings.
Englert (8-2) earned the victory, limiting the Bulldogs to one run on one hits and two walks in five innings.
Concordia returns to action on Tuesday, April 3 as the Bulldogs travel to Bellevue, Neb for a doubleheader with Bellevue University beginning at 5 p.m.