Game Time...The Red Raiders top-rated pitching staff will be put to the test by Concordia's highly touted offense in a softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon in Orange City, Iowa. First pitch of game one of the GPAC doubleheader is scheduled for 2pm. Earning votes in the last NAIA coaches' poll, Northwestern is off to a 1-1 start in the conference, 14-5 overall. Concordia is 0-1 in GPAC play, 11-10 overall. 

Follow the games live, via the NWC webcast, at this link: Watch Now! 

All-Time...Northwestern holds a 37-24 advantage in the all-time series and is 5-5 over the last 10 match-ups against the Bulldogs. Northwestern swept Concordia last year, 4-3 and 13-9. 

Scouting Reports...

    Concordia Bulldogs: 0-1 GPAC, 11-10 overall        Head Coach: Todd LaVelle (5th year)

Since a three-game win streak where they defeated Olivet Nazarene, Presentation and Saint Mary (Kan.), Concordia has dropped three of its last four games to fall to 11-10 on the year. They opened GPAC play with an 8-6, extra-inning loss to Doane last week before game two was called due to weather. They went 6-4 over their spring break trip to Tucson, Ariz.

LaVelle returns just two starters and six players from a 2017 team that finished second in the GPAC with a 14-6 record, 34-14 overall, second most wins in program history. Despite the loss of seven starters, including four players who earned first or second team all-conference honors, LaVelle's young squad was picked second in the GPAC preseason poll.

By the Numbers:   (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Batting Average: .352 (2nd)       Opponent Batting Average: .360 (9th)
    Runs / Game: 7.2 (2nd)             Runs Given Up / Game: 6.9 (10th)
    Hits / Game: 10.7 (2nd / 8th)     Hits Given Up / Game: 10.6 (10th)
    Stolen Bases: 29/33 (3rd)          Stolen Bases by Opponent: 21/24

    Individual Players:
    Hhana Haro: .519 (1st / 9th), 18 runs (10th), 10 2B (4th), 23 RBIs (6th)
    Leah Kalkwarf: .408 (5th), 21 runs (5th), 2 HR
    Mackinsey Schmidt: .380, 13 runs, 9 RBIs
    Tori Homolka: .351, 24 runs, 5 HR (4th), 20 RBIs (8th)

    Brittany Woolridge: 1-3, 4.12 ERA  35.2 IP, 19 K's
    Grace Bernhardt: 5-4, 7.20 ERA, 47.2 IP, 34 K's

(RV) Northwestern College: 1-1 GPAC, 14-5      Head Coach: Chris Nachtigall (7th year)

The Red Raiders opened conference play with a split against Morningside last week, losing game one 1-0 before coming back with a 2-1 win in game two. Northwestern is 14-5 overall and is 4-3 against ranked teams, defeating (RV) Olivet Nazarene, #11 St. Francis and (RV) Jamestown. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank)
    Batting Average: .306 (3)         Opponent Batting Average: .251 (1st)
    Runs / Game: 6.1 (3)                Runs Given Up / Game: 3.2 (1st)
    Hits / Game: 8.9 (3rd)                 Hits Given Up / Game: 6.7 (1st)
    Stolen Bases: 41/46 (1st)           Stolen Bases by Opponent: 8/11

    Individual Players:
    Emily Bosch: .537 BA, 12 runs, 4 HR, 16 RBIs
    Emily Sones: .441 BA, 3 runs, HR, 11 RBIs
    Jessica Sandbulte: .338 BA, 17 runs, HR, 10 RBIs
    Jensen Boger: .317 BA, 8 runs, 4 RBIs

    Emma Schnell: 7-1, 1.30 ERA (1st); 54 IP, 48 K's (7th)
    Kayla Tindall: 6-3, 2.20 ERA, 54 IP, 60 K's (3rd)