LIVE STATS LINKS: 3/14 vs FL Southern || 3/15 vs. LIU POST
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University softball team (1-5) will take part in the Rebel Spring Games in Winter Haven and Auburndale, Fla. next week. The Golden Bears have 10 games scheduled over six days against competition from all over the country.
CU opens up action on Tuesday with games against Glenville State (W.Va.) and Southern Indiana. They continue their slate with single games against Ferris State (Mich.) and Indianapolis on Wednesday, #13 Wayne State (Mich.) and Florida Southern on Friday, Lees-McRae (N.C.) and #10 LIU Post (N.Y.) on Saturday and finish their schedule with a doubleheader against #19 Caldwell (N.J.).
The slate of games represents some more tough early-season tests for the young Golden Bears' squad to help prepare them for conference play. It also marks the first opportunity for the team to escape the winter weather of Minnesota and play outdoor softball this year.
The Golden Bears had a lot of success in their trip to the Rebel Spring Games last season. They swept the week, going a perfect 8-0 as they outscored their opponents by a margin of 45-4.
Through six games this year, Concordia has hung tough through nearly all of the games but have come up just short of adding a few more to the win column.
The Golden Bears finally broke through last Tuesday in a doubleheader with Minnesota Duluth as they took game two by a score of 7-5. Freshman
Linzy Heim took home her first career win as she delivered five innings and
Stephanie Kappes retired the side in order in her two innings to pick up the save.
Offensively,
Tessa Ewert has been a stalwart in the CU lineup through the first six games. She is hitting an even .500 (9-18) with a home run and three RBI as well as a pair of steals. The senior is off to the best start of her career after spending much of last season as a part-time player.
Another player rebounding in the early going this season is junior outfielder
Cassie Bertelsen. Bertelsen is hitting a healthy .313 with a homer and a pair of RBI. She has also reached base three times via the walk.
Freshman
Liz Jarosz went hitless in the doubleheader with Minnesota Duluth but continued to show she is a threat in the middle of the order as she drew three walks in the two games to give her six free passes on the year. She enters the trip with a .294 batting average and .458 on-base percentage with a home run and three RBI.
Upon returning from the trip, CU will head back down south the following week to take part in a tournament at Missouri Western. The next few weeks will go a long way in getting the squad prepared and building confidence heading into NSIC play.
