SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia will head to two invitationals over the 2024 spring break and will not be shy on games, playing 12 different teams at the two combined host sites. The Bulldogs are set to compete in the Friends University Invitational (Mar. 1-2) at the Two Rivers Youth Complex (Wichita, Kan.). Then the weather will get hot and dry in the desert of Tucson, Ariz., at the Tucson Invitational from Mar. 5-8. CUNE will take a 2-8 record into spring break, as Head Coach Brock Culler continues the Arizona trip for his second consecutive year.
Last season, Concordia went 3-1 in the Friends Invite, run-ruling three teams in Kansas. At the Tucson Invite, Coach Culler’s squad came out just above .500 with a 5-4 record in the desert.
The Bulldogs went 1-3 over the past weekend against the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) and Benedictine College (Kan.) on the road. Concordia collected 11 RBIs to the opponents’ 21 and was edged out in hits (26-32), with 14 allowed from the second game against USM. The standout over the four contests was Zoe Isom who batted .500 (6-for-12) with a .917 slugging percentage. The Fillmore High School product connected for a pair of two baggers, three RBIs and a home run. Laycee Josoff had three hits, two RBIs, one run and a home run, while Aubrey Bruning smacked four hits, four RBIs and one run for the Dawgs. Megan Eurich pitched seven innings, four strikeouts, allowed two runs (one ER) and one BB for the win in game one versus the Spires.
Isom and Josoff lead the team in hits (eight) and slugging percentage with .520 and .414 through 10 games, as Josoff has a team high four runs. Bruning has a team high five RBIs and Madison Cushing has the lead OBP of .429. Five different players have six hits, including Bruning, Taylor Glause, Kylie Shottenkirk, Jennifer Katz and Julia Van Wey. Katz and Bruning have two stolen bases apiece.
Eurich, the primary in the pitcher’s circle, has thrown 33.2 innings, with a 3.33 ERA, 25 Ks and a 2-4 record. Having their No. 2 out from last season, freshman Kaylei Denison has stepped into the role with 18.1 IP, 8.40 ERA, 7 Ks, 0 HRs and an 0-4 record. Denison has had 20 BBs, after having trouble in the first start of her career but has limited free bases as of late.
Spring Break Schedule (March 1-8)
Friday, March 1 vs. Missouri Valley, 1:20 p.m. CT
--Friends University Invitational
--Live Stats | Location: Two Rivers Youth Complex (Wichita, Kan.)
Friday, March 1 vs. Saint Mary, 5:40 p.m. CT
--Friends University Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: Two Rivers Youth Complex (Wichita, Kan.)
Saturday, March 2 vs. Park, 12:20 p.m. CT
--Friends University Invitational
--Live Stats | Location: Two Rivers Youth Complex (Wichita, Kan.)
Saturday, March 2 vs. Sterling, 4:40 p.m. CT
--Friends University Invitational
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Two Rivers Youth Complex (Wichita, Kan.)
Tuesday, March 5 vs. Dickinson State, 9 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Tuesday, March 5 vs. Tabor, 11 a.m. MT / 12 p.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Wednesday, March 6 vs. Graceland, 9 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Wednesday, March 6 vs. Madonna, 11 a.m. MT / 12 p.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Thursday, March 7 vs. Valley City State, 9 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Thursday, March 7 vs. St. Francis, 11 a.m. MT / 12 p.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Friday, March 8 vs. Mayville State, 1:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Friday, March 8 vs. Viterbo, 3:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. CT
--Tucson Invitational
-- Live Stats | Location: (Tucson, Ariz.)
Concordia has four more non-conference games before entering conference play. The Bulldogs will have a doubleheader with Nebraska Wesleyan University on Mar. 13 and against Peru State College on Mar. 16.