SEWARD, Neb. – The wind was howling at Plum Creek Park as the Concordia University softball team celebrated senior day on Saturday (April 27). The wind had nothing to say to a line drive smash off the bat of Tori Homolka, whose three-run walk-off homer provided the lasting image of the final day of the regular season. Homolka’s big blast completed a doubleheader sweep of Dordt that saw the Bulldogs win by scores of 7-0 and 5-4.
Though it’s not yet official, head coach Shawn Semler’s squad is locked into the No. 3 seed in the GPAC tournament that will begin next Thursday (May 2). The Bulldogs improved to 26-10 overall and to 15-7 in conference play.
“I just felt good about it,” Semler said of pinch hitting Homolka with two on in the bottom of the seventh in game two. “She’s been struggling a little bit but I thought this was going to be a good time for her to break out of the slump that she’s been in. She jumped all over it and that’s just a fun way to end the day. It’s great to go out in the regular season with some momentum like that. I’m excited about being the three seed.”
Concordia had grown tired of doubleheader splits after splitting each of its previous four GPAC twin bills. The day started nicely when the Bulldogs rattled off three runs in the bottom of the first inning of game one. Camry Moore singled in a pair of runs and Jadyn Lindgren knocked in another with a base hit. Concordia outhit Dordt, 12-2, in the opener.
Moore showed off her skills in the circle and with the bat in game one. She fired a two-hit shutout that featured just one walk allowed to along with five strikeouts. Moore went 3-for-4 (one run, two RBIs) at the plate, meaning she outhit the Defenders (18-21, 10-12 GPAC) all by herself. She was backed by two-hit games by teammates Hhana Haro and Jamie Lefebure. The Bulldogs put the game away by notching four runs in the sixth inning.
Concordia seemed destined for another split after Dordt built a 4-0 lead in the third inning. The game began inauspiciously when Marissa VanDenBerg belted a leadoff homer. Senior Brittany Woolridge eventually buckled down and the Bulldog bats came to life in the sixth.
Fellow senior Tricia Tripp initiated a rally with a double to open the bottom of the sixth. Kylee Nixon drove her home with a double of her own. Two batters later, Nixon scored on a Lefebure double. That set the stage for a thrilling seventh. Senior Leah Kalkwarf led it off with an infield hit, which was followed by Haro’s double to the gap in right center. Homolka followed with a homer that ignited a celebration at home plate.
It was an exciting home sendoff for Kalkwarf, a 2017 first team all-conference selection, and the rest of the seniors. “I’m happy we got the sweep today in the final home games, but I’m excited to see what the postseason brings. We have a talented team and I think we have the potential to go pretty far.”
Kalkwarf, Haro and Lefebure each collected two hits in game two. Lefebure went 4-for-5 on the day in what were also the final home games of her college career. The seniors have been a big part of helping make it a smooth transition in Semler’s first season at Concordia.
“We wanted to do some things differently and they bought in – and this is the result,” Semler said. “They’ve done a great job and have been there and had my back every step of the way.”
GPAC tournament action is up next. The bracket will be announced after all regular season games have been completed.