LINCOLN, Neb. – The Bulldogs pulled two nailbiters out at the Sandhills Global Complex against the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) on Saturday (Feb. 14). Concordia University, Nebraska Softball defeated the Spires in walk-off fashion in game one, 4-3, and held on to a sliver of a lead in game two, 8-7. Mary Beth Hart hit 4-for-7 and was the deciding run in the initial contest.
Head Coach Brock Culler and company are 5-3 overall early in the 2026 campaign.
“We did find a way to win in the end, and that was good to see,” First game, Deni pitched really well. The defense played well behind her. The biggest takeaway was that we got runners on base and in positions, and we didn’t execute in any of the five bunts we tried. Lilly did a good job in game two. Defensively, we played really well behind Lilly. Saint Mary’s put the bat on the ball, got to give them credit. Offensively, we were poised and we had a plan. We were much more disciplined in the second game. Our base running was real good.”
With the bases loaded and one out, Tobi Topp drove a sacrifice fly into center field to give Hart the room to run across the final bag to end game one. MB was the heart and soul of the of the offense having timely knocks driving in two runs and scoring the final scoreboard tally. Taryn Ganstrom (one triple) and Aubriana Krieser both cracked two hits and the shortstop added an RBI in the first outing.
Coach Culler continued, “Mary Beth had an outstanding game offensively in that one. If it wasn’t for her offensive outburst in that one, it would have been tough for us to find a way to win that one. She did a great job.”
Kaylei Denison threw all seven innings earning her second win of the season. Denison allowed six hits, two earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts in 30 batters faced.
In game two, the offenses went cold after two plated scores apiece in frame one. In the fourth and fifth, the Bulldogs caught fire pouring on six runs in the two innings. Grace Zaugg laced an RBI (one double) laser in consecutive chances in the box and went 2-for-3 in her right field showing. Grace Maguire nuked her second home run of her career in the stretch by the Dawgs.
With an 8-3 lead, USM battled back forcing three walks (one hit by pitch) and two hits would end with four runs in the sixth. Ganstrom would relive her time in the circle earning a save as the relief pitcher by only allowing up two hits and zero earned runs.
Starting hurler Lilly Elsasser (2-0) earned the win in five innings pitched. She gave up eight hits, four earned runs, a walk and threw two punch outs in 25 batters faced.
Concordia produced 22 hits in the two combined showings with 12 runs batted in. Laycee Josoff and Hart went 2-for-3 hitting in the second outing.
Concordia (5-3) will face Benedictine tomorrow in Atchison, Kan. The Bulldogs will receive first pitch at 12 p.m. CT to start the doubleheader at Raven Field.