Concordia drops two at Florida Southern, 5-1 & 3-1
The spring break trip for the Concordia University, Nebraska, softball team hasn't gone according to plan. The Bulldogs fell to 1-5 on the trip and 3-5 overall after suffering a sweep at the hands of Florida Southern, 5-1 and 3-1, on Tuesday, March 13.
Florida Southern moved to 20-4 following the two victories on Tuesday.
Game One: Florida Southern 5, Concordia 1
The Bulldogs jumped out in front in the top of the first inning as junior Natalie Svoboda (Lincoln, Neb.) blasted a triple to right-center. Sophomore Shelby Morose (Claremore, Okla.) sent an RBI single into center field to give Concordia a 1-0 lead.
Concordia, however, was unable to push across any additional runs in the first inning. In addition, the Bulldogs were limited to just three hits the rest of the way.
Bulldog ace senior Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.) stepped into the circle in the bottom of the first with the lead, but Florida Southern attacked quickly. Unfortunately, the Moccasins scored three runs on a single, an RBI double and a two-run home run off the bat of Brittany Martin.
Sempek fell to 2-3 with the loss, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk in six innings. Florida Southern's Christine Clark (13-2) allowed one run on six hits for the victory.
Game Two: Florida Southern 3, Concordia 1
In the second contest, Florida Southern sent Clark to the hill for a second time and unfortunately for the Bulldogs she only got better allowing just three hits.
The Bulldogs countered with sophomore Amanda Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) in the circle. Beeson delivered her second consecutive impressive outing. Beeson kept the Moccasins at bay until the fifth inning, when a walk, an error and a two-run triple gave Florida Southern a 2-0 lead.
Concordia answered in the top of the sixth as Svoboda ripped a one-out triple to right, then Morose brought Svoboda home with a fielder's choice.
Florida Southern added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and went on for the 3-1 win.
Beeson fell to 0-3 on the season with the loss, surrendering three runs on seven hits and two walks. Clark, meanwhile, moved to 14-2 allowing one run on three hits.
Concordia will wrap up its trip to Florida with a matchup against Eckerd College at 4 p.m.