SEWARD, Neb. – Looking to find a new rhythm, the Dawgs came out on top (2-0, 8-3) against Hastings in two different style games on Monday (April 6). All three phases came through in the right moments for Concordia University, Nebraska Softball compiling 20 hits, a shutout and a game-deciding knock. The defense played virtually spotless with zero errors in the twin bill.
The Bulldogs move even (4-4) in conference play and 15-12 overall through 27 games.
“Defense played really well today,” Head Coach Brock Culler said. “Our pitching was good. Two conference wins. We really needed it. This was a good day for Bulldog Softball. Deni threw really well. She got out of big innings, especially inning number one. They stranded double-digit base runners, and she did a good job of getting out of situations like that. Looking at the way they were swinging the bats, Lilly is a good drop ball pitcher. It was a great day for her. Zauggy has been swinging it well and making good contact. It is not a big surprise. Tobi hammered one, and that was a big hit for our team.”
With a combined 11 runners left on base in the first three and a half frames of game one, Grace Zaugg (2-for-3) left no-doubt with a two-RBI heavy blow past the numbers of deep center field. The thunderous strike would eventually be the game-winner and the Watkins, Iowa, natives’ first career homer as a Bulldog.
“I expected her to come in on me, and I just sat and turned on it,” Zaugg said. “This was a little bit of a change in pace with all their pitchers. We just had to sit back and learn to wait for ours and drive it. This was huge. We really needed a sweep. We have had a lot of splits, and some of the losses have been kind of devastating. These wins will be huge to pick up momentum and keep going.”
That would be all first circle pitcher Kaylei Denison and the defense needed to earn the initial game clean sheet. With the two-run lead, Denison would only give up one hit in the final nine outs. The Waverly, Neb., product hurled her second career complete shutout via seven punch outs, while giving up six total hits in 31 batters faced.
Going into the fourth with a slim lead (5-3), Coach Culler made a switch in the circle that proved deadly for the Broncos' offense in game two. Lilly Elsasser tossed with the confidence of her defense and virtually shut down Hastings allowing one lone hit and walk. In the four innings, all that was heard were crickets as the Ralston High alum rifled the other 12 batters.
With the 7-3 lead, Topp's solo shot would be the cherry on top sending her second home run of the year into another orbit. Taryn Ganstrom (two RBIs, one run, triple, stolen base) and Mary Beth Hart (two runs, two doubles) would both crack 3-for-4 in the final game as Grace Maguire (2-for-2) clobbered a two-RBI single and an RBI double making her presence felt in the middle of the lineup.
Hart (4-for-7) led the team with four hits in the doubleheader and Kiera Farritor went 2-for-6. Avery O’Boyle hit 2-for-3 in game one. Third baseman Bailey Merritt was tested throughout the two games and assisted on eight putouts with zero errors in the hot corner.
Concordia (15-12, 4-4 GPAC) will have less than 48 hours before facing Mount Marty (11-17, 2-6 GPAC) in Yankton, S.D., on Wednesday (April 8). The Bulldogs will step to the plate at 4 p.m. CT for the doubleheader at North-East Sertoma Field.