SEWARD, Neb. – In an exceedingly challenging weekend, the Concordia University Softball team found out what it takes to reside at the top of the league standings. While continuing the pre-Easter homestand, the Bulldogs were defeated on Saturday (April 8) by 13th-ranked Northwestern, 6-0 and 8-3. A three-run bottom of the sixth in game two is what Concordia will attempt to build upon as it reflects on a weekend that saw it come up empty.
Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad has dropped nine league games in a row since beating Morningside in its GPAC opener. Nearly halfway through the conference slate, the Bulldogs stand at 1-9 in conference games (12-21 overall).
Concordia is still trying to rediscover some of the offensive firepower it showed earlier in the spring. The way things have transpired lately, the Bulldogs have felt snake bitten. Concordia was shut out on four hits in Saturday’s game one despite regularly squaring the ball up over the final four innings. With two on and two out in the third, Delanie Voshell’s hot smash to third was snared on a diving attempt. That particular play is emblematic of how the Bulldogs have fared of late.
Northwestern (31-2, 8-0 GPAC) outplayed Concordia when it came to fundamental softball and struck when the iron was hot. A defensive miscue by the Bulldogs in the first inning of the day made it look like a continuation of Friday’s struggles versus Midland. The Red Raiders pounced behind Kameryn Etherington, who got the pitching win in game one and totaled five of her team’s 20 hits on the day. When Northwestern did run into a bit of trouble, reliever Kate Kralik was able to shut the door. She earned saves in both ends of the twin bill.
At long last, Concordia strung some hits together in the sixth inning of game two. The Bulldogs came to life while jumping all over the first pitch of their at bats. The three-run outburst was ignited by Kylie Shottenkirk’s leadoff double. Run-scoring hits were then delivered by Hanna Bowers (double), Taylor Glause (double) and Caitlyn McGarvie (single). Concordia wound up leaving runners at first and third and trailed 6-3 at the time. The Red Raiders responded with two runs in the top of the seventh to stamp out the momentum that had been built.
At the top of the Bulldog lineup, Shottenkirk walked twice in game one and then notched two hits in game two. Concordia managed a combined 11 hits for the day, showing improvement over Friday’s meager offensive output. There hasn’t been much margin for error for a pitching staff headed by Megan Eurich. The sophomore from Gretna, Neb., covered all seven innings in game one and allowed the six runs on nine hits and two walks (six strikeouts). Jerzi Rowe (1.2 IP) and Brooke Townsend (5.1 IP) pitched game two. Townsend surrendered only two earned runs in her extended relief appearance.
The Bulldogs will be idle until next weekend’s (April 14-15) road matchups at Jamestown (14-11, 0-2 GPAC) and Dakota Wesleyan (6-23, 1-9 GPAC). Due to continued wintry weather up north, the twin bill at Jamestown may be played elsewhere. For the latest updates, check the Concordia Softball home page and follow @cunebulldogs on Twitter.