Senior Day, Inclement Weather Stories of Softball’s Doubleheader Sweep

Photo by John Hicks

by Noah Rohlfing

Concordia’s softball team celebrated Senior Day by sweeping College of Saint Mary in a GPAC doubleheader Wednesday and Thursday after weather pushed back the second game.

Concordia moves to 31-11 on the season, 13-5 in the GPAC.

In the first game, Concordia leapt to a 3-0 lead after the first inning thanks to junior Michaela Woodward’s strong pitching and strong hitting. After Saint Mary pulled a run back, the Bulldogs added four more in the second to take a commanding 7-1 lead. The next two innings Saint Mary scored two runs, trimming the gap to 7-3. Concordia scored in the fifth and sixth innings, building a 9-3 lead heading into the seventh. The game ended as a Bulldog win. Inclement weather postponed the start of the second game until Thursday afternoon.

Woodward picked up the win and led the Bulldogs from the mound. Freshman Renee Watson contributed two hits and three RBIs.

The second game began as a defensive struggle. The Bulldogs did not record a hit until the bottom of the third, and senior Kylie Harpst held Saint Mary in check. Saint Mary broke the deadlock in the fourth inning on a single from Brittany Banks. Woodward hit a home run to tie it up at 1 in the bottom of the inning. Concordia exploded in the fifth, scoring five runs to open up a 6-1 lead. Saint Mary scored two in the seventh, but the game ended 6-3.

Sophomore Leah Kalkwarf had two RBIs to lead the Bulldogs.

Up next for the Bulldogs is a GPAC doubleheader against Dordt College. First pitch from Orange City, Iowa, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29.