Sempek delivers second straight shutout as Bulldogs split two with Mount Marty
Behind a second consecutive shutout from senior Nicole Sempek (Columbus, Neb.), the Concordia University, Nebraska, softball team secured a split with Mount Marty on Friday, April 20.
Sempek's shutout propelled Concordia to a 5-0 win in the opening game, but Mount Marty held off the Bulldogs, 2-1, in game two.
Following Friday's action, Concordia moved to 13-15 on the season and 7-5 in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action. Mount Marty finished the evening 4-26 overall and 2-8 in GPAC play.
Game One: Concordia 5, Mount Marty 0
Game one was a pleasant combination of early offense and a consistent effort in the circle by Sempek. Concordia pounced on the Lancers in the top of the first with two runs. With two outs in the inning, junior Angela Harstad (Lewiston, Minn.) reached on an error. Harstad stole second, then went to third on a single by senior Alyssa Bauwens (Perryville, Mo.). With freshman Molly Madsen (Thornton, Colo.) at the dish, Bauwens stole second. Madsen made the move pay off with a two-run single into left field.
Concordia repeated a successful blueprint in the third as sophomore Shelby Morose (Claremore, Okla.) reached on an error then stole second. Harstad followed by reaching on an error that sent Morose to third. Harstad swiped second for the second time in the game, then one out later, Madsen laced another two-run single to make it 4-0.
That was all the offense Sempek would need as she held the Lancers to just five hits and one walk in seven innings. Sempek moved to 10-6 with the win, recording seven strikeouts in her 15th complete game and sixth shutout of the season.
Game Two: Mount Marty 2, Concordia 1
Sophomore Amanda Beeson (Waverly, Neb.) went to the circle in the second game and continued to dominate. Unfortunately the Bulldogs offense was unable to support their hurler.
Beeson allowed an unearned run in the bottom of third on two singles and a passed by her sister, junior Jacy Beeson (Waverly, Neb.).
J. Beeson made amends in the top of the fifth, leading off the inning with a single to center. Pinch runner, freshman Regan Doiel (Millard, Neb.) stole second, then scored one out later on an RBI single by junior Nicole Mapes (Greeley, Colo.).
The game remained tied, 1-1, until the bottom of the seventh inning as Amanda Volgarino touched A. Beeson for a game winning home run over the right field wall.
A. Beeson dropped to 3-9 on the year, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6.1 innings.
Mount Marty's Brittany Bruns scattered six hits and a walk in seven innings for the win to move to 2-15 on the season. Bruns finished the game with six strikeouts, while A. Beeson also set six Lancers down on strikes.
The Bulldogs conclude their four game road trip with a doubleheader in Sioux City, Iowa against Briar Cliff at 1 p.m.