SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Softball is set to make a Saturday (March 7) trip to the Friends University (Kan.) Invite. The Bulldogs are set to square off against Bethany College (Kan.) and York University. CUNE has amassed an 8-6 overall record as the team continues to try and schedule games through early-season difficult weather.
Friends University Invite
--Location: Two Rivers Youth Complex (Wichita, Kan.)
Saturday, March 7 vs. Bethany (4-7), 12:15 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 vs. York (4-12), 2:30 p.m.
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs went 3-1 this past week and 2-0 in their shortened visit to the NAIA Top Gun Invite. Concordia split with Kansas Wesleyan University (4-3, 3-4) in two nail-biters and defeated Mount Mercy University (Iowa), 7-2, and Clarke University (Iowa), 6-1. Taryn Ganstrom (four RBIs) cranked 6-for-11 as Tobi Topp (6-for-12) and Mary Beth Hart (7-for-16) followed behind the shortstop as each pushed across two RBIs. In the circle, Kaylei Denison dialed up two wins allowing five runs in 14 innings pitched. Kierstyn Linn returned to the rubber hurling nine frames giving up three runs and striking out four.
· Concordia has been making contact early in the season. Led by Hart (.440), the Bulldogs' team batting average is .320 through 14 games. Seven players hit above .300 include the likes of Hart, Kiera Farritor (.400), Tobi Topp (.359), Grace Zaugg (.357), Laycee Josoff (.333), Avery O’Boyle (.306) and Taryn Ganstrom (.302). The leading three in slugging percentage are Farritor (.600), Topp (.538) and Hart (.520).
· There are plenty of new or more seen returning faces for Concordia Softball fans to familiarize themselves with. During action this season, 14 players have had early time on the field, including Zaugg, Hart, Farritor, Merritt, Tobi Topp, Aubrey Wright, Morgan Selvage, Ava Martinez, Linn, Elsasser, Morgan, Trinity Stephens, Lillian Loghry and Piper Seidl. The Bulldogs continue to move the starting players figuring out the best lineup.
· Head Coach Brock Culler is 73-81 at the helm of the Concordia Softball team. He has had a 25-19 GPAC record in the past two seasons continuing to improve the standard of the program. With Melissa Martinez in her second year as the lead assistant coach, the Bulldogs are poised for another jump. The coaching staff has remained consistent for the first year under Coach Culler as Janessa Anderson and Aaron Glause also stay on staff.
· Ganstrom led the team with a double, five runs, a team-high four runs batted in, three stolen bases and the second home run of her career in the last four games. Batting .545 (6-for-11), the third-year transfer slugged .909 with an on-base percentage of .583. The Concordia Softball single-season triples leader (2025) has laced a .512 slugging rate and a .435 on-base percentage in 2026. The Seneca, Kan., native has 22 hits (four-extra base) with seven RBIs and two walks.
· Denison went 2-0 this week with a 2.50 earned run average through 63 batters faced. The Waverly, Neb., product was a flamethrower against Kansas Wesleyan with nine strikeouts to reach a new single-game career high. The junior has a 3.34 ERA for the season and a 4-3 record as the game one starter. Through 44 innings, She has 27 punchouts and eight starts.
· Mary Beth Hart leads the team with 22 hits (four extra-base) on 50 visits to the plate. With a .440 batting average, the Lincoln Southwest High alum has reached base in .472 percent of her at-bats. The freshman left fielder has graced the leadoff spot from day one as a Bulldog and continues to show why she’s in the front with six stolen bags, totaling 26 bases. In 50 appearances in the batter’s box, Hart has only been punched out twice by opposing pitchers.
The Opponents
The Swedes are 4-7 going into March having recently played the same two squads as Concordia. Bethany defeated Clarke (7-1) and were bested by Mount Mercy (13-5) in 5 frames. BC is 2-7 in neutral site games, led by Ulissa Rivas (.485) and Avery Newmiller (.429) in hitting percentage. Rivas is out front in the batter’s box, thrashing 17 runs batted in and four round trips thus far. The Swedes hit .273 and have driven in 56 runs on the year. Bethany has primarily used three in the circle including Dylann Baker (20.2 IP), Jordyn Stelzig (17.0 IP) and Paris Hammer (15.0 IP). Baker has allowed 12 runs and seven walks putting out 14 with a team-low 4.06 ERA.
The Panthers are 4-12 going 2-4 against GPAC teams as both wins came over Waldorf. Shannon Nelson is a speedster on the base paths with a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen base attempts. Taylor Jones (.444), Lexi Knapp (.379) and Nelson (.333) are the batting average leaders. Jones has 16 hits with four doubles and a home run. Emma Peeples (12), Jones (11) and Knapp (10) pace York in RBIs. Ashley Falk (2.96) is the lead Panther in the circle allowing 12 runs, and 41 hits while striking out 12 in 28.1 innings pitched.
Up next
Concordia will have a significant break before finally entering conference play on Wednesday (March 18). The Bulldogs will have a busy week with three doubleheaders versus Midland, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Briar Cliff.