SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska will lace up their cleats for its final four regular season contests which include doubleheaders versus Doane and College of Saint Mary inside Plum Creek Park. The Bulldogs will celebrate seven seniors on Saturday in between the two outings in Seward. The dugout is 19-18 overall and 8-10 in the GPAC, looking to secure a postseason playoff spot up for grabs.
This week
Wednesday, April 22 vs. Doane (19-20, 6-10 GPAC), 5 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Game 1 - Game 2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, April 18 at Dordt (8-27, 4-14 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Game 1 - Game 2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Concordia had six consecutive games on the road going 2-4 in the away stretch. The Bulldogs lost to a then-ranked No. 22 Midland (4-3 (11 inn.), 8-0 (6 inn.) and Dordt (6-0, 10-2 (5 inn.)). They defeated Waldorf (20-5, 13-9) in both with monster offensive outings in both. The team batted .326 just outflanking their opponents in total, .324. Concordia struck 59 hits with 16 doubles and four home runs. Laycee Josoff hit .500 and two home runs in the same inning of game one versus the Warriors. Grace Zaugg (.462), Taryn Ganstrom (.429) and Bailey Merritt (.400) were the top regulars in the lineup. With 36 runs driven in, the Seward side reached the final bag 38 times. Josoff (seven) and Aubriana Krieser (five) laced in the most plated runners as Ganstrom (seven), Josoff (five) and Zaugg (four) were the top scorers.
· Some new faces were afforded new roles as the young Dawgs took advantage of their opportunities. Piper Seidl and Elena Shipley cracked their first collegiate hits against Waldorf. Ava Martinez (2-for-3) followed suit but with her first career homer. Shipley, against Dordt in game two, earned her first start and went 2-for-3 over the weekend with an RBI. Down against the Defenders in game one, Brooke Moore entered the circle in relief allowing zero runs, one hit and zero walks in 2.1 innings pitch. She also received her first career start the next game.
· Josoff had a vastly improved week and a monumental two outings in the two-game series against the Warriors. The former shortstop now second baseman hit 8-for-16 and was the team leader in home runs and RBIs with second place finishes in hits and runs scored. The Channel 8 (Lincoln-ABC affiliate) Athlete of the Week is hitting .304 on the season with 28 hits, 19 runs driven in and 10 runs scored. The junior is 5-for-7 in stolen base attempts.
· The seven Seniors to be honored are Addy Dean (Behavioral Science/Sociology major), Taryn Ganstrom (Exercise Science), Emma Kirby (Psychology/Criminal Justice), Tobi Topp (Accounting), Isabella Wolter (Elementary Education), Aubrey Wright (Marketing) and Grace Zaugg (Secondary Education). A class of primarily transfers, in the last season and the current one combined, they have a record of 46-38 and 20-20 in conference competition. Ganstrom has batted a career .356 hitting percentage and holds the single-season triple record (nine) for Concordia Softball. She is two hits away from 100 and three RBIs away from 50 in her career. Outfielders Zaugg (.358), Topp (.310) and Wright (.263) have all gained larger starting roles this season improving their batting average.
· Concordia remains with the third-best batting average (.325) in the conference behind Dordt and Doane. Mary Beth Hart continues to lead the team with a .393 hitting percentage. Kiera Farritor (.379), Zaugg, Ganstrom (.345), Krieser (.330), Topp and Josoff all knock above .300. Farritor (.631), Ganstrom (.513) and Hart (.511) are the highest in slugging percentage.
· With some losses by the top teams, the GPAC Standings aren’t completely clear but Dakota Wesleyan remains in the top spot at 16-2. Midland (1-3-3) and Morningside (13-3) are duking it out for the second rung on the ladder as Dordt (14-4) is right behind them. After the strong first four, Northwestern (9-7), Briar Cliff (10-10), Concordia (8-10) and Doane (6-10) make up the top eight – the number of teams to make the postseason. Mount Marty (5-13) sits just outside with Hastings (4-12), CSM (4-14) and Waldorf (2-16).
The opponents
The Tigers are 19-20 overall and 6-10 in the conference with a doubleheader versus Northwestern on Tuesday before taking on the Dawgs. Doane relies on its offense to win games with the high hitting percentage being third (354) in the GPAC in cracks. Having hit 25 homers this season, the Tigers are fourth in the league and are led by Ciara Hudson with 10 (4th in GPAC). They have four with double-digit extra base hits including Hudson (18), Katelyn Hays (14), Addison Parsons (14) and Evelyn Iniguez (14). Parsons paces Doane with a .425 batting average (.724 SLG). The workhorse in the circle is Trinity Robinson with 81.0 innings pitched. Robinson has a 3.20 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 17 walks.
The Flames are 8-27 overall and 4-14 in the conference. With a .265 batting average, CSM’s hitting leader is junior Ella Watts (.424) and is fifth in the GPAC. Kynzee McFadden (14) and Watts (12) have the highest number of extra base knocks. Kayla Reed has a team high eight stolen bags and 62 total bases. The Flames have only entered two pitchers in the circle with over 50 innings including Shaylynn Campbell (104.0) and McFadden (86.0). Campbell has 53 punchouts and a 6.46 ERA, while McFadden has 50 strikeouts and a 4.07 ERA.
Up next
Concordia’s future after this week is uncertain as the Dawgs are looking to solidify a GPAC tournament spot. The four-team pod play is set for April 29-30 with the championship on May 2. The two highest seeds will host the two pods at their home fields.