By Sam Firminhac, Athletic Communications
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Concordia University Softball team split its midweek doubleheader against nonconference opponent and former GPAC rival Nebraska Wesleyan University on Tuesday (April 5). In game one, the Bulldogs were led by Camry Moore in the low-scoring pitcher’s duel, winning 1-0. They couldn’t quite pick up the sweep falling, 4-3, in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh. Head Coach Tatum Edward's squad is sitting just above the .500 mark at 17-15 on the year.
Moore has been nearly untouchable on the mound as of late, only one earned run combined in her last four starts. Tuesday’s performance was her second straight complete-game shutout, moving her to 11-6 on the season. With the victory, Moore also picked up her 50th career win, a feat that only three other players in the program have been able to accomplish. Mindy (Evans) Miller currently holds the record with 83 career wins.
“Camry’s showing her maturity,” Edwards said. “She knows her strengths and the adjustments she has to make. She takes ownership when she misses a pitch. That’s what you want to see from a senior pitcher. I think she’s pitching very maturely.”
On the offensive side for Concordia, their lone run in the first game came from an RBI double by Alexis Tachovsky. Julia Van Wey had three hits on the day, including an RBI in game two. Lex Campos and Caitlyn McGarvie had one RBI apiece in the second game. Aubrey Bruning had three hits and scored a run. Moore was also productive offensively, reaching base three times and scoring a run in the second game.
Said Edwards, "Offensively, I think we saw over 300 pitches tonight. We were fouling pitches off and fighting in our counts. It looked like one through nine everyone who came up had good at-bats."
Jerzi Rowe (5-7) got the nod in the circle for game two. Rowe threw 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out four. The back and forth second game was tied going into the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Nebraska Wesleyan senior Sydney Nickerson was able to drive in the winning run with a base hit to left. The throw to the plate had beat the runner, but the Concordia catcher was ruled to have inhibited the runner’s path.
Although the Bulldogs weren't able to pull off the doubleheader sweep, Coach Edwards liked the team's resiliency.
“In those later innings (of game two), they were getting people on base with less than two outs and putting pressure on us to make plays and to pitch well – and we did,” Edwards said. “Jerzi was jamming them all game and making pitches when we really needed them. I was really proud of that.”
Concordia will be back in action on Friday (April. 8) with an evening doubleheader against GPAC opponent Jamestown. The Bulldogs split their doubleheader with Jamestown last season. The Jimmies are currently 16-14 (3-3 GPAC). First pitch for Friday's action is set for 5 p.m. CT.