SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Softball will go to Kansas for its next two doubleheaders this weekend. The Dawgs kicked off their season with a trip to Mesquite, Texas to compete in the Southern Collegiate Sports NAIA Invitational. CUNE faced top competition and went 3-3 in their opening six games.
This Week
Saturday, February 14 at Saint Mary (0-0), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Saint Mary Softball Complex (Leavenworth, Kan.)
Saturday, February 15 at Benedictine (2-2), 12 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Raven Field (Atchison, Kan.)
By the numbers
· The 2026 season commenced for the Bulldogs at Mesquite Softball Complex. On opening day, Concordia went 2-0 with two run-rule contests over Nelson University (Texas), 8-0 (5 inn.), and Mid-America Christian University (Okla.), 13-2 (six inn.). The navy and white then fell just shy in a comeback to Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 7-6, and finished day two off with an 8-4 victory over Bethel College (Kan.). On the final day, the competition ramped up as the Bulldogs fell in both against last season’s national runner-up No. 2 Oklahoma City University, 9-0 (5 inn.), and the University of British Columbia, 5-1.
· In their opening weekend, the offense produced 36 runs on 47 hits with three home runs, five triples and six doubles. Concordia rolled around the bases trying to steal 10 with an 8 earning an extra bag. With six games completed, the Bulldogs have nine earned walks and 32 runs batted in. The team’s hitting rates for the weekend from each category were a .309 batting average, .348 on-base percentage and a .474 slugging percentage. Freshman Hart leads the team with nine hits and Kiera Farritor in slugging percentage (.706). Krieser paces the Seward dugout with seven RBIs and home runs (two). Tobi Topp and Farritor had three extra-base knocks each.
· The only returner that has graced the circle has been Kaylei Denison, who pitched the lone shutout in the season opener. In 17 innings pitched, Denison has allowed 20 hits, 10 earned runs, 12 walks and 11 strikeouts. With a 4.12 ERA, she has faced 86 batters and started five of six games. Second game hurler Kierstyn Linn has thrown 10.1 innings allowing eight hits, eight earned runs, eight walks and eight strikeouts, as her jersey number is also eight. Linn’s ERA thus far is 5.42 in 51 batters faced.
· On the defensive side, Krieser leads with 43 putouts with zero errors. Others with big numbers in putouts are Avery O’Boyle (16), Taryn Ganstrom (13) and Grace Maguire (eight). The assist leaders are Ganstrom (16), Laycee Josoff (nine), and Maguire (seven).
· The Spires will begin their 2026 season against the Bulldogs. With four All-KCAC players last year, USM returns only third-team all-conference Grace Rose. The Ravens are 2-2 playing all GPAC schools in Sioux Center. Benedictine defeated No. 11 Midland, 3-2, and Mount Marty, 5-4. Picking up close loses the Ravens fell to No. 17 Northwestern, 2-1, and Morningside, 4-3. Benedictine returns first team All-Heart pitcher Bailey Selvage, who Concordia faced in 2025. It also brings back Megan Forsman and Rhiannon Martin from the all-conference lists.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will travel to McPherson, Kan., to take on Central Christian College next Saturday (Feb. 21).