WICHITA, Kan. – There was no allowing an inferior opponent to hang around on a windy Sunday (March 7) as the Concordia University Softball team completed a three-day stay at the Friends University Invitational in Wichita, Kan. In the day’s action, the Bulldogs totaled a combined 22 runs on 21 hits and nine walks while parading around the bases. Concordia earned run-rule shortened wins over event host Friends, 10-2, and Dakota State University (S.D.), 12-3.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad went 5-1 at the Friends Invite and has jumped out to a 9-1 record on the season. The Bulldogs owned the same record after 10 games in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
“We saw the team that I think we are and the team we can be offensively,” Semler said. “When Camry (Moore) is in the circle, I feel like the girls are looser and they seem to swing it better. I’ve coached other teams where when our ace was pitching we didn’t score runs because we didn’t think we had to. I feel like we’re at ease when she’s pitching and just go swing the bat. That’s really fun to see.”
Concordia put a thumping on a Friends team that had been 5-2 this season against GPAC opponents. The big blow of the game was provided in the third inning when Tori Homolka belted a grand slam to push the lead to 6-1. The standout shortstop went 2-for-4 and drove in five runs in the contest. Out of the leadoff spot, Kylee Nixon produced a 2-for-3 game that included three runs, a walk, a double and two RBIs. Nixon’s two-run double keyed a three-run fifth that enacted the run rule.
The combination of that type of offensive output and Moore and the circle is always going to result in a Bulldog win. She covered all five innings versus Friends and allowed one earned run on five hits. She struck out four batters without issuing a free pass. Moore (5-0 with a 1.63 ERA in 2021) is now 12-1 in her last 13 pitching decisions.
The second game of the day was never in doubt after Concordia struck for nine runs in the bottom of the first versus Dakota State. In a frame that included six hits, three walks and an error, Jenessa Jarvis rapped out a three-run double, Moore doubled in one and Homolka, Regan Karel and Brena Brown collected an RBI single apiece. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the second inning before Semler made wholesale substitutions. Jerzi Rowe (4-1) earned the win while throwing 3.2 shutout innings (two hits allowed).
At the top of the lineup, Nixon is swinging a particularly hot bat. The York native went 4-for-5 with five runs scored and three RBIs on Sunday. Not to be outdone, Jarvis (two hits each in four of the past five games) went 4-for-6 with two runs, two doubles and four RBIs. Homolka also enjoyed a 3-for-6 day while Karel and Hhana Haro both went 2-for-5. Catcher Allysia Thayer reached base three times in the first game via a single, walk and hit by pitch.
“Kylee is so good at seeing pitches and if you do get her out she makes such good adjustments at the plate,” Semler said. “She’s just so hard to get out and it was an easy call to put her at leadoff. It’s nice having Jenessa at No. 2 because she’s a great bunter. I think she likes it better there. I really liked what we did today. I think we’ll see similar lineups going forward.”
A much greater challenge is coming up on Tuesday when the Bulldogs will be at fourth-ranked Oklahoma City University (6-1) for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. CT. NAIA Hall of Fame Head Coach Phil McSpadden has led the Stars to 10 national titles in 33 seasons leading a dominant program. Notably, Oklahoma City defeated 20th-ranked Morningside, 3-1, on Saturday.
Check the Oklahoma City softball web page for details on how to follow live coverage of Tuesday’s games.