OMAHA, Neb. – The Concordia University softball team took on the College of Saint Mary Flames in a doubleheader on Tuesday (April 27) in Omaha and came away with a split. The Bulldogs, despite a much higher perch in the standings, surrendered three early runs in game 1, leading to a 5-4 loss. They rebounded in game 2, capturing a 6-3 victory.
Head Coach Shawn Semler’s squad is now 25-9 overall and 11-7 in the GPAC. The Bulldogs reside in fourth place in the GPAC following Tuesday.
The Bulldogs came out unusually cold in game 1, surrendering three runs in the first inning to a CSM squad that has struggled this season (8-29 overall and 3-17 in GPAC). Said Semler, “We started off kind of flat today, they scored three early on us and really didn’t hit the ball hard. We weren’t sharp and we struggled with their pitcher and started to press a little too late.”
Concordia began to mount a comeback in the fourth inning scoring a run of their own. They held CSM scoreless in the bottom half of the inning before the Bulldogs tacked on another two runs in the top half of the fifth. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as CSM added to their lead with runs in the fifth and sixth inning, stifling the CUNE attempt at a rally. Pitching wise, Moore threw five innings acquiring three strikeouts, with the last inning being completed by Jerzi Rowe, who added two strikeouts of her own.
In Game 2 the Bulldog’s started cold again; allowing two runs in the first inning. This time Coach Semler had a short leash on his pitcher as Zoe Flores came in and went to work. Flores pitched the remainder of the game, holding CSM scoreless up until the seventh. In the meantime, the Concordia bats went to work scoring two runs of their own in the third to tie the game. The Dogs would break the game open in the sixth thanks to a leadoff hit from sophomore Creighton Taylor. The Gretna native singled to right center sparking some confidence in the lineup. After a few walks, the Bulldogs traded outs for some more runs and going into the bottom half of the sixth, Concordia had a 6-2 lead. Flores would finish the game but not before surrendering a homer in the seventh. She responded to finish off the Flames and close out a 6-3 Bulldog victory while striking out five and allowing just the one earned run.
The Bulldogs will head on one final road trip to close their 2021 season playing a doubleheader in Sioux Center, Iowa, against the Dordt Defenders (19-21 overall 8-10 in the GPAC) on Saturday (May 1) before concluding their season on Sunday (May 2) with a doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan (9-23 overall and 1-15 in the GPAC). First pitch on both days is set for 1 p.m. CT.