SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Bulldogs won out in an offensive battle to move on to day two of the GPAC tournament outlasting seventh-seeded Briar Cliff (10-7) on Wednesday (April 29). After a gut-wrenching loss to third-seeded Morningside (5-4) in the opener, Concordia University, Nebraska responded with its first postseason win since 2022. The Seward dugout continued to lace the ball for 27 hits in the two outings.
Brock Culler seized his first playoff win as the head coach of the Dawgs and moves to 23-19 on the year.
“It feels good,” Coach Culler commented. “I kinda didn’t realize it because I was wrapped up in the game. Like the senior class, I had to chat with them and say we can’t go out that way. I’m happy for the win, but we have to do a better job of staying competitive and finishing games. Tobi and Krieser, when they went to the plate, it was almost like we were expecting something good to happen. Bailey came up with a huge hit with the bases loaded and two outs. That’s what happened against Morningside: we left too many runners on base.”
Up 9-1 in the elimination game versus the Chargers, Concordia gave up five runs in the fifth before relief pitcher Kierstynn Linn found her bearings. With the game-tying run at the plate for Briar Cliff, Sophomore Brooke Moore entered the circle to shut down the comeback and earn the first save of her career.
Culler added, “Brooke is a steady hand for us. We know exactly what we are going to get from her. That’s what it is.”
The Bulldogs scooped up nine of their 10 runs in the third and fourth frames as Tobi Topp (3-for-4, three runs) started both scoring droves with two RBI-doubles that scored a rumblin stumblin Kiera Farritor in both knocks. Aubriana Krieser (3-for-4, run) struck for an RBI single in the third and an insurance run in the fifth. Bailey Merritt (three RBIs) went 2-for-2 with a momentum building two-RBI single.
In the conference tournament opener, Concordia jumped out to an early lead due to a two-RBI home run by Avery O’Boyle (first career). In the third, Merritt, Hart and O’Boyle all hit singles as the third baseman scored on an error to go up three on the Mustangs. Morningside would respond in the bottom of the frame with five runs off five hits. The Bulldogs added one more run via Ganstrom in the seventh, but would ultimately look back and see missed opportunities with nine runners left on base.
O’Boyle finished the game hitting 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs and 4-for-9 on the day. Hart batted 2-for-4 with one run scored. The Lincoln Southwest product went 4-for-9 in the two games. Krieser went 4-for-7 with a walk, while Merritt hit 3-for-4.
Kaylei Denison ended with a loss and a win in the two outings. In 8.2 innings pitched, she gave up 13 hits, seven earned runs, and eight walks, striking out four.
Concordia (23-19) will face No. 2 seed Dordt (38-11) at Open Space Park on Thursday (April 30). The Bulldogs will take the field at 12 p.m. CT in the elimination game. The winner will face Morningside at 2 p.m. trying to best the Mustangs twice to move on to the GPAC tournament championship on Saturday.