SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs will have little with another six-game on the docket starting with No. 22 Midland on Tuesday (April 14). Concordia University, Nebraska will stay the away team the entire stretch ending with Waldorf and Dordt. CUNE finished 4-2 this past week to total a 17-14 overall record and a 6-6 GPAC showing.
This week
Tuesday, April 14 at No. 22 Midland (26-10, 8-2 GPAC), 2 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Game 1 - Game 2 | Location: Schilke Field (Fremont, Neb.)
Friday, April 17 at Waldorf (3-29, 1-13 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Game 1 - Game 2 | Location: Al Buckley Field (Forest City, Iowa)
Saturday, April 18 at Dordt (29-8, 10-2 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Game 1 - Game 2 | Location: Dordt Softball Complex (Sioux Center, Iowa)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs swept Hastings (2-0, 8-3) but split with Mount Marty (3-6, 13-3 (five Inn.)) and Northwestern (4-2, 5-7). The barrels continued to connect with nine Concordia players hitting above .300 including Grace Maguire (.667), Mary Beth Hart (.524), Tobi Topp (.400), Taryn Ganstrom (.400), Aubrey Wright (.375), Grace Zaugg (.375), Avery O’Boyle (.333), Aubriana Krieser (.333) and Kiera Farritor (.333). Five Bulldogs slugged .750 and above including Farritor (.810), Hart (.810), Maguire (.778), Topp (.750) and Zaugg (.750). CUNE had 20 more knocks (61-41) than its opponents and 14 more runs scored (35-21) with Hart finding the plate eight times. The Dawgs drove in 30 runs with Farritor (10), Maguire (five) and Ganstrom (five) leading the charge. The homers were powered by Farritor (three), Topp (two) and Zaugg (one).
· With the third-best batting average (.323) in the GPAC, the Bulldogs have delivered 270 hits in the season. The knock leaders are Hart (47), Krieser (35), Farritor (32), Ganstrom (32), Topp (32), Josoff (20) and Maguire (19). The top hitting rates for Concordia start with Farritor (.386) and Hart (.420) with both continuing to lead the way. Batting over .300 are Krieser (.368), Topp (.340), Ganstrom (.327) and Maguire (.302).
· Krieser tagged her ninth career homer in game one versus Morningside and her fourth of the season. In the month of March, the former NaviGator cracked a .486 batting average with a dugout-pacing 17 hits (four extra-base) with two four-baggers. The Lincoln, Neb., product has produced 20 RBIs (2nd on team) and 13 runs (4th). Slugging .568, Krieser has only struck out five times in 95 at-bats and has yet to have a fielding error in 25 games.
· Concordia’s defense has been lights out at times with the GPAC’s high fielding percentage (.968). The Bulldogs have 29 errors, the least in the conference, and are tied for 20th in the nation. The infield is always looking to turn two with 11 on the season (T-2nd in GPAC). With stellar outfield play from the four primary players on the grass, Hart, Topp, Aubrey Wright and Grace Zaugg have only given up one free runner between them.
· The Bulldogs have run 382 total bases with 59 stolen bags. The lead base thief is Hart with 16 stolen in her freshman campaign. Taryn Ganstrom (nine), Topp (eight) and Wright (seven) follow behind Hart and Laycee Josoff (four) with Zaugg (four) behind the top three. The list of Concordia players with at least one base swipe is Bailey Merritt (four), Avery O’Boyle (two), Elena Shipley (two), Grace Maguire (two), Krieser and Kiera Farritor.
· Farritor had the game of her career from the batter's box in game two against the Lancers. With a two-run homers in the first and second, the Malcom, Neb., native capped the day with a no-doubter grand slam in the third. Over the week, she drove in 10 runs on seven hits (one double) earning two walks and five runs. Farritor leads the team in slugging percentage (.663) and 8th in the conference.
· Dakota Wesleyan has the lead with only one loss (13-1) through its first 14 GPAC contests. Three teams sit behind the Tigers with two losses including Dordt (10-2), Midland (8-2) and Morningside (8-2). Northwestern (9-5), Concordia (6-6), Mount Marty (5-7) and Doane (4-8) make up the top eight in the conference standings. Briar Cliff (4-10), Hastings (3-9), College of Saint Mary (3-9) and Waldorf (1-13) will look to jump into the top eight to reach postseason play.
The Opponents
The Warriors of Midland are 26-10 overall and 8-2 in the GPAC. The two teams were originally slated for the conference opener (March 18), but will be played as this week’s first doubleheader. Scoring 207 runs (fourth in GPAC), Midland hits .305 as a team and .443 in slugging percentage. Alexis Shepard (41), MaKenna Watkins (38), and Isabelle Pagan (37) are the leaders in knocks as Pagan paces with eight round trips. Shepard is the RBI front woman (28) and base runner with 11 steals. Mackenzie Groninga (100 IP) and Campbell Petrick (117.2) are the top pitchers for the Warriors. Groninga has punched out 135 batters this season.
The Warriors of Waldorf are 3-29 overall and 1-13 in the GPAC. Waldorf defeated Hastings (13-4) back in March. Since, WU has lost nine consecutive and has yet to win (0-6) at home. With a .239 batting average, the Warriors rely on Reagan Ridout (.378) and Gabby Bierly (.303) in the batters box. Waldorf’s Ridout and Makenzie Cope are the projected starters.
The Defenders are 29-8 overall and 10-2 sitting in second in the conference. They will face Midland on Monday to open the week and jockey for standings position. Hitting .360, Dordt leads the conference in hitting percentage and slugs .600 as a team. Rylee Yager and Chloe Kruez both have connected for 61 hits apiece. Kreuz paces the squad with 14 home runs. Yager (129.2) dominates the circle in innings pitched with 154 strikeouts.
Up next
Concordia will host its final two doubleheaders at home starting with Doane and College of Saint Mary in Plum Creek Park. The Bulldogs will have senior day against the Flames in Seward.