ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The heroics of Kylie Shottenkirk in game one helped make the Concordia University Softball team a winner as part of a doubleheader split at Northwestern on Saturday (April 2). The Bulldogs also got a stellar pitching performance from Camry Moore as they took game one, 3-1, before falling in game two, 6-4, in Orange City, Iowa. Kylee Nixon produced three hits in the second contest.
Head Coach Tatum Edwards’ squad remains at .500 in conference play with a 4-4 league mark (15-13 overall).
“We kept pushing in that first game,” Edwards said. “We had quite a few strikeouts but when we needed a clutch hit, we got one from Kylie Shottenkirk. She battled through her at bat after getting down in the count. No matter where we are in the count or what is going on, we have to battle to the end. It showed what can happen when you do that with Kylie’s at bat.”
In game one, Concordia waited until there were two outs in the top of the sixth before cracking the scoreboard. With runners on second and third, Shottenkirk sent Kameryn Etherington’s pitch over the wall in left field for a home run that turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. Caitlyn McGarvie (walk) and Moore (single) were along for the ride.
That one swing of the bat provided enough support for Moore, who faced only two batters over the minimum in yet another pitching gem. Moore surrendered the one run on two hits and did not allow a walk while striking out five. She managed to outduel Etherington (10-2), who racked up eight strikeouts and allowed five hits and three walks.
“We’ve really been on the same page,” Edwards said of Moore. “I’m just excited to continue to work with her for as long as we can.”
A four-run fifth inning for the Red Raiders in game two proved too much to overcome. However, the Bulldogs gave themselves a shot in the top of the seventh. Concordia cut its 6-2 deficit in half via Nixon’s two-run single. McGarvie followed with an infield hit that put two runners on with two outs. Etherington, who came on to get the save, got Moore to fly out to left to end the day.
Over the two games, the Bulldogs outhit Northwestern (receiving votes in the most recent national poll), 14-9. Zoie Isom collected two hits in both ends of the twin bill. Nixon went 3-for-4 with a run, a double and two RBIs in game two. McGarvie also notched two hits in the second contest. Meanwhile, Shottenkirk went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI in the game two.
Jerzi Rowe got the game two start in the circle and went five innings. She gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out two. Defensively, four Concordia errors contributed to two unearned runs. For the Red Raiders (23-7, 2-4 GPAC), Kate Kralik earned the pitching win and Gwen Mikkelsen recorded two hits, including a home run.
A hectic week is coming up for the Bulldogs, who will quickly turn around and host College of Saint Mary (7-15, 3-1 GPAC) for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. CT on Monday. This matchup had twice been postponed due to lack of cooperation from the weather. The two programs split last season’s twin bill that was played in Omaha. As part of next week’s slate, Concordia is also scheduled to be in action on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.