SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off playing four doubleheaders over a six-day stretch, Concordia University Softball will have a calmer slate this week. The only varsity competition of the week will take place on Tuesday as the Bulldogs head to the Jensen Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa, for two games against perennial GPAC powerhouse Morningside. Head Coach Tatum Edwards’ squad has split each of its last five twin bills and stands at 19-17 overall (7-7 GPAC). There is work to do to ensure that Concordia locks up a spot in the postseason.
This Week
Tuesday, April 12 at Morningside (16-12, 4-6 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Video | Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2
By the numbers
· The doubleheader splits came last week against College of Saint Mary (April 4), NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan University (April 5), Jamestown (April 8) and Dakota Wesleyan (April 9). Two of the four defeats came by one-run margins. Due to the way the schedule sets up, the Bulldogs hosted their senior already this past weekend. The final eight games of the GPAC regular season will be on the road for Concordia. So far, the only road conference action has come at Midland and at Northwestern. The reigning GPAC regular season and postseason champion, Midland (12-2 GPAC) is the frontrunner once again atop the league standings.
· Senior day festivities took place in between games of the doubleheader versus Dakota Wesleyan. A youthful squad, Concordia has only two senior players, but both have made a huge impact on the program – Camry Moore and Kylee Nixon. The Bulldogs also honored second-year graduate assistant coach Bre Hamilton and senior student manager Kaetlyn Todd. As for Moore and Nixon, they have helped Concordia to a combined four-year record of 91-44 with a national tournament appearance in 2021. That ’21 squad qualified for nationals thanks to a run to the GPAC Championship Series.
· Speaking of last year’s GPAC tournament run, it included three wins at the Jensen Softball Complex, including two over host Morningside (the No. 2 seed in the bracket). If she hadn’t been considered a star already, Moore definitely rose to stardom on May 5-6, 2021. Moore picked up the pitching wins in both games against the Mustangs while also going a combined 4-for-6 (with two walks) at the plate. Moore homered twice in the 9-3 victory over Morningside on May 5. Prior to those wins over the Mustangs, no one on the 2021 Concordia roster had ever beaten Morningside. The advancement to the GPAC Championship Series earned the Bulldogs an automatic bid to nationals (program’s first appearance since 2015).
· Moore will go down as one of the top players in program history for her abilities with both her bat and pitching arm. From an offensive perspective, Moore sports program career rankings of third in RBIs (114), fifth in runs scored (117), sixth in batting average (.392), seventh in home runs (14), 10th in doubles (31) and 12th in hits (160). On the program’s all-time pitching lists, Moore ranks first in ERA (1.94), third in wins (51), sixth in innings pitched (457.2) and seventh in strikeouts (327). Incredibly, Moore has issued only 36 walks in her college career as a pitcher. She was named Second Team All-GPAC in 2019 and First Team All-GPAC in 2021. Over last week’s outings, Moore allowed a combined two earned runs in 28 innings.
· Nixon has also enjoyed a fine career as a mainstay at second base. Over 126 career collegiate games, the York High School product has compiled 124 hits, 90 runs scored, 28 doubles, 16 stolen bases, nine home runs and 68 RBIs. Her career batting average is .337. Nixon garnered Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades last season. In 2022, Nixon is hitting .312 with eight doubles, one triple, a home run and 11 RBIs. She also owns a .968 fielding percentage having successfully fielded 121 of 125 chances at second base.
· Greater consistency from the next wave of Bulldog standouts will be a key down the stretch this season. Concordia has gotten steady play from third-year outfielder Caitlyn McGarvie, who is hitting .342 with 21 runs scored, four doubles, three triples and 12 RBIs. Seven regulars in the lineup are batting at least .280: Moore (.463), McGarvie (.341), Nixon (.312), Zoie Isom (.298), Julia Van Wey (.294), Kylie Shottenkirk (.292) and Aubrey Bruning (.282). Isom paces the team with three home runs.
The opponent
Morningside will try to get back on track after having lost five of its last six games. The program’s head coach since 1999, Jessica Jones-Sitzmann has led the Mustangs to incredible heights that include 10 national tournament appearances and 16 total GPAC titles. Morningside returned each of its First Team All-GPAC selections from last season: Ellie Cropley, Morgan Nixon and Lexie Stolen. Nixon has been the team’s top hitter this season with a .387 batting average, six home runs and 29 RBIs. The team’s two main pitchers are Grace Buffington (9-4, 2.34 ERA) and Katherine Wurtz (7-8, 3.25 ERA). Morningside was ranked 20th in the NAIA preseason poll and landed just outside the top 25 of the latest coaches’ poll.
Next week
The road swing will continue the weekend of April 22-23 as Concordia is slated to play at Briar Cliff and at Mount Marty. The regular season is scheduled to conclude with a doubleheader at Hastings on April 26.