SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia has a full weekend ahead of them after a six day break between games. The Bulldogs will play three doubleheaders in four days against Jamestown (Friday), Dakota Wesleyan (Saturday) and College of Saint Mary (Monday). Against the Tigers, the home team will host three seniors Taylor Glause, Creighton Taylor and Julia Van Wey. Last week, Concordia Softball brought home a 1-3 record after taking the first game from Hastings and dropping both contests to No. 11 Northwestern. That totals the record to 12-20 overall and 2-6 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
This Week
Friday, April 12 vs Jamestown (20-9, 6-4 GPAC), 5 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, April 13 vs Dakota Wesleyan (12-19, 1-7 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
Monday, April 15 vs College of Saint Mary (7-17, 0-4 GPAC), 5 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Dawgs scored two runs in both games against the Broncos but defensively, they were vastly different efforts. Megan Eurich hurled a shutout (2-0) for the home team totaling seven innings pitched and seven strikeouts in 30 batters faced. Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad was able to put together six hits, led by Taylor Glause (2 H) and runs by Aubrey Bruning and a Kylie Shottenkirk (1-3) solo shot. In game two, the Bulldogs gave up 15 runs on four errors. Eurich pitched all 12 innings versus a tough Red Raider team and kept Concordia in both contests but fell, 2-0 and 4-0. Bruning and Glause were able to gather two hits in one game each, but the offense was stifled once they had runners in scoring position. Eurich allowed only three earned runs in the two contests.
· Aubrey Bruning has turned up the heat on offense in conference play. The lead off batter has seven hits in eight conference games and five hits in the last four (.500 AVG). She leads the team in hits, batting average (.368), on-base percentage (.455) and is tied in slugging percentage (.421) with Shottenkirk. In that span, the Lincoln, Neb., product has collected three runs and one RBI.
· Three seniors are taking part in their final season celebration. Taylor Glause out of Malcom, Neb., has played for the Bulldogs for three years, after transferring from Cloud County Community College. She will be graduating with a degree in psychology. The outfielder/catcher currently has a .254 career batting average and over 100 collegiate hits. Creighton Taylor, out of Gretna, Neb., will graduate with a degree in biology and has spent her entire collegiate career as a Bulldog. Dealing with consistent injuries, the outfielder has appeared in 62 games and has a .178 career batting average. Julia Van Wey, out of San Diego, Calif., has competed all four years at Concordia. The third base player currently will graduate with a degree in criminal justice. She has over 100 career hits and currently has a .285 career batting average.
· The top four batting averages through 32 games come from veterans starting with Bruning (.329), Glause (.314), Zoe Isom (.290) and Van Wey (.281). Pacing the team for on-base percentage is freshman Josoff (.429), junior Bruning (.391) and Glause (.359). In slugging percentage, Isom (.478) stayed at the top of the leaderboard with Jennifer Katz (.405) and Glause (.395), rounding out the top three. Consequently, Isom (16) and Katz (15) have the current team high RBIs. As a team, the Bulldogs hit .257 so far this season.
Jamestown
The Jimmies come into the week with a 20-9 overall record and a 6-4 conference record. In the past two doubleheaders, Jamestown fell (12-3, 2-0) to Northwestern in both games and defeated CSM (8-0, 3-1) in both games. The team averages 5.28 runs per contest and has totaled 13 home runs on the year. The batting percentages are .320/.371/.451 (AVG/OBP/SLG) and their earned run average is 1.62. Trinity Gregg has a high batting average (.371) and slugging percentage (.596). Abby Blair has a pitching record of 7-5 and a team low 1.13 ERA.
Dakota Wesleyan
The Tigers are 12-19 overall and 1-7 in the GPAC but were on an eight-game losing streak before getting their first conference win (7-6) against Morningside on Saturday. Dakota Wesleyan is scheduled to play Briar Cliff and Midland before facing off against Concordia. The visitors average 4.68 runs per game and have hit 11 home runs. Averaging .308 in batting, the Tigers have a .362 on-base percentage and a .418 slugging percentage. Eden Heggemeyer leads the team with a .462 batting average, .533 on-base percentage and a .538 slugging percentage. The pitching staff is led in ERA by freshman Ivy Woolwine (4.45) with a 5-8 record and Keirstyn Krcil (6.03) with a 6-9 record in 17 starts.
CSM
The Flames have lost 10 in a row and have a 7-17 overall record and are winless (0-4) in the conference. The last two teams CSM faced were Morningside and Jamestown in those GPAC losses. The visitors score 2.25 runs per contest and have hit five beyond the fence this season. The offensive numbers stack up to .241/.288/.317 (AVG/OBP/SLG) and has totaled 36 extra base hits. Catcher Sydney Griffin paces the Flames with 21 hits and a .333 batting average and a .380 on-base percentage. Shaylynn Campbell (4-8) and Megan Garcia (2-9) get the bulk of the work in the pitchers' circle. CSM has used five pitchers throughout the season.
Next Week
Concordia is scheduled to be back on the road next week against Briar Cliff and Mount Marty. The Bulldogs will travel to Sioux City, Iowa on Friday (Apr. 19) and to Yankton, S.D. the next day.