Game Time... After a 10-day layoff due to weather cancellations, the Red Raider softball team will be in action this weekend as they host Concordia in a key GPAC match-up. First pitch of the double header scheduled for 1:00 pm.
Scouting Report... The Bulldogs return seven offensive starters and three pitchers off last year's squad that finished with a 26-23 overall record. Concordia went 14-9 in the conference regular season but captured the GPAC postseason crown to move on to the regional tournament. Head Coach Frank Greene is in his eighth year as Head Coach of the Bulldogs.
This season, Concordia is 11-5 overall and 3-1 (second place) in the conference standings. Like NWC, their schedule has been limited due to the weather so far this year. As a team, they are fourth in batting average (.314) and fifth in ERA (4.39).
Individually, they are led freshman outfielder Nicole Baker who is one of the league leaders with a .467 batting average. Baker has also scored 11 runs and driven in 12 with two home runs. Senior infielder Samantha Hellbusch returns for her final season and is batting .439 with two triples and 10 RBIs. Kendall Burgess (.433) and Sarah Bergen (.364) are the other top hitters for the Bulldogs. Christy Jeppesen, a senior outfielder, leads the team in the power numbers, three home runs and 17 RBIs. On the mound, Concordia is led by Sarah Bergen with a 5-3 record and 5.77 ERA. Earlier this season, the senior earned both GPAC and regional pitcher-of-the-week honors. In 48 1/3 innings pitched, Bergen has struck out 33 batters and walked 20. Caitlin Lawrence is third in the GPAC in ERA (2.33) and sports a 1-1 record in six appearances. Amanda Huckestein, a sophomore, is 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA.
Last Time Out... Concordia dropped a tough eleven inning game 7-6 before winning game two in eight innings 7-4 over Nebraska Wesleyan Wednesday afternoon (April 2) in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska Wesleyan (8-8, 3-5 GPAC) got a two RBI single from Klancy Nixon with two outs in the bottom of the eleventh to give the Prairie Wolves the game one victory. Concordia's Sarah Bergen was tagged with the loss, giving up seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits. Junior catcher Charlotte Kaeding, back in lineup after missing time due to illness, led the Bulldog offense in game one going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
In game two the Bulldogs used a three run double by Amanda Huckestein in the top of the eighth inning to capture a 7-4 victory. Huckestein's double came after junior Anne Royuk singled to lead off the inning. She was then moved to second by Nicole Baker's sacrifice bunt. Kaeding was then hit by a pitch and Samantha Hellbusch added an infield single to load the bases for Huckestein who quickly unloaded them. Huckestein also picked up the victory for the Bulldogs on the mound, pitching in relief of starter Caitlin Lawrence. Husckestein scattered seven hits over three and one third innings while surrendering only one run (earned). Huckestein also led the Bulldog offense going 2-for-4 with four RBI while Hellbusch went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
The Red Raider softball team recorded a double-header sweep over the Mount Marty Lancers on March 26 in GPAC softball played in Yankton, S.D. Northwestern won the first game 6-4 behind the arm of freshman Lexy Determan who picked up her eighth win of the season with the complete game. The Red Raiders cruised to a 17-2, five-inning win in game two. Gavi Burrola went the distance on the mound and improved to 3-5 this season. Offensively, Lizz Swanson belted a grand slam, her sixth home run of the season. Sara Curry added a double for the Red Raiders.
Red Raider Notes... Northwestern comes into this weekend's games with a 12-10 overall record, 2-2 in the GPAC. Head Coach Melanie Mason is in her seventh year as Head Coach and has led NWC to a 203-109 record coming into this year. Last year, the Red Raiders finished 32-19 overall and tied for second place in the conference with an 18-6 mark.
As a team, NWC is sixth in the GPAC with a .286 batting average and fourth in ERA (3.07). Individually, senior Lizz Swanson is one of the league leaders in several offensive categories. She is batting .456 with a GPAC best 31 hits, six home runs and 30 RBIs. Swanson has also seven stolen bases this year. Sophomore Sara Curry is second on the team with a .383 batting average and leads the GPAC with three triples. Senior outfielder Michelle Van Duyn is batting .352 and a team-best 17 runs scored. Freshman Stacey Godfrey is batting .294 with 14 RBIs.
On the mound, NWC is led by freshman Lexy Determan with a league best 9-5 record. Determan boasts an impressive 1.96 ERA and leads the GPAC with 99 strikeouts against just 27 walks. Gavi Burrola sports a 3-5 record with a 5.04 ERA.
Next up... Northwestern will next host USF on Wednesday, April 9 at 5/7:00 pm.
2008 media guide
