SEWARD, Neb. – This week’s schedule is jam packed with GPAC action as the Concordia University softball team aims to finish the regular season strong. Currently in third place in the league standings, the Bulldogs (22-8, 11-5 GPAC) face their final road trip of the regular season with a Tuesday trip to Northwestern. Head coach Shawn Semler’s squad will also host College of Saint Mary on Wednesday and Dordt on Saturday. The program will honor its eight seniors in between games of Saturday’s doubleheader.
This Week
Tuesday, April 23 at Northwestern (15-18, 8-6) – DH
3 p.m. | on-campus field | Orange City, Iowa
Links: Webcast | Stats
Wednesday, April 24 vs. College of Saint Mary (13-25, 6-10) – DH
5 p.m. | Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Links: Webcast | Stats
Saturday, April 27 vs. Dordt (13-18, 7-9) – DH
1 p.m. | Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Links: Webcast | Stats
Part of the focus for this week will be on regaining productivity from an offensive standpoint. Three of Concordia’s past four games have resulted in 1-0 final scores (two wins). One of those occurred last week at Midland in a matchup between ace pitchers – freshman Camry Moore and Warrior star Jaylee Hinrichs. Moore fired a six-hit, nine-inning shutout in the 1-0 Bulldog victory. Senior Brittany Woolridge also notched a three-hit, seven-inning shutout of Hastings over the weekend. Moore and Woolridge have combined to allow a grand total of five runs over the team’s past five games (three shutouts). Concordia’s team ERA of 2.87 ranks third in the GPAC.
Moore and Woolridge have taken advantage of a defense that has been stellar behind them. The Bulldogs currently pace the GPAC with a fielding percentage of .967. With that type of work defensively, Moore and Woolridge have been plenty confident in pounding the strike zone and allowing weak contact to translate into outs. Moore has been one of the nation’s most extreme control pitchers having issued only seven walks in 96.2 innings (walk rate of 0.51 per game ranks No. 2 nationally). The Crete High School alum has found a groove with either one or no runs allowed in each of her last four starts against conference opponents.
Now Semler is looking for more consistency out of an offense that has been led by sophomores Tori Homolka (.404 BA) and Hhana Haro (.394 BA). Some of the regulars are working through slumps for a lineup that has been overall successful this season (6.23 runs per game). Freshman second baseman Kylee Nixon out of York, Neb., has provided a lift by going 24-for-50 (.480) with six doubles and two home runs on the season. The Bulldogs managed to draw seven walks in game one at Hastings, but could not get the clutch hit with runners on base.
Northwestern will bring a four-game win streak into Tuesday’s action. That run has moved the Red Raiders up to fourth in the GPAC standings. The biggest star is Amber Schubert, who is hitting .351 with 10 doubles and five home runs. The pitching staff features Emma Schnell (9-11, 3.09 ERA) and Samantha Ubben (2-5, 3.73 ERA). Northwestern has been adept at jumping on top of opponents early having put up 44 runs in the first inning this season.
College of Saint Mary dropped two at Hastings in its most recent outing. The Flames’ biggest claim to fame this season was a 9-1 run-rule victory over Midland back on April 9. As a result of that contest, Kelsey Goodban was named the GPAC Pitcher of the Week. Goodban is a strikeout pitcher (98 in 102.1 innings), but has also been susceptible to the long ball (14 homers allowed).The squad’s leading hitter is Brittney Banks, who is batting .400 with six home runs and a .667 slugging percentage.
Dordt has an even more hectic schedule this week with doubleheaders slated for Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The formula when the Defenders have had success has typically involved great pitching. Tianna Soodsma owns a 2.58 ERA for a team with a 3.42 ERA. The onus has been on the pitching staff with an offense that has struggled. It averages less than 3.0 runs per game and has a team batting average of .226.
Following this week, it will be time for postseason play. The GPAC tournament will unfold May 2-4 with the top two seeds earning the right to host separate four-team pods. Tournament pairings will be announced by the conference when all regular season action is in the books. Concordia still has a shot at winning the GPAC regular season title, but currently trails Midland (15-3 GPAC) and Morningside (14-4 GPAC) in the race.
Seniors to be honored on Saturday
Baily Clear (Alliance, Neb.)
Maddie Fousek (St. Paul, Neb.)
Nichol Johnson (Bennington, Neb.)
Leah Kalkwarf (Omaha, Neb.)
Jamie Lefebure (Crete, Neb.)
Elanna Osthoff (Labadie, Mo.)
Tricia Tripp (Simi Valley, Calif.)
Brittany Woolridge (Tucson, Ariz.)