(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia softball is about to embark on their 2022 campaign with games this upcoming Friday at the Legacy Center. The Cardinals had a strong performance last year, making a deep run in the WHAC conference tournament and advancing to the championship game of the NCCAA World Series. 5th-year head coach Hailey Cavanagh returns 10 players from last year's squad while recruiting 12 newcomers.
2021 Season Review
Concordia finished 32-24 overall last year with a 12-8 WHAC conference record. The Cardinals had a noteworthy win over Madonna in conference play while also sweeping rival Siena Heights. CUAA received the #4 seed in the WHAC tournament and made it to the final of the consolation bracket with wins over Cornerstone, Cleary and UNOH. While the team played close with Madonna for several innings, the Crusaders pulled away for the win.
Concordia's season would not end there as the team received a berth in the NCCAA World Series as the #2 seed. The Cardinals downed Alice Lloyd, Carolina University and Oakland City to make it to the World Series final against Mid-America Christian. In a close contest that went to extra innings, the Cardinals narrowly fell 3-2.
2022 Schedule Outlook
The Cardinals begin their season this Friday, January 28 at the Legacy Center when they face Grace College and Judson. The team will play another 4 games at the Legacy Center on February 3-4 when they face Indiana South Bend, Olivet Nazarene, St Mary-Woods and Saint Xavier. The month of February concludes with two 4-game weekend series at Alice Lloyd and Brescia.
Concordia will embark on their annual spring break trip to Florida in early March before entering conference play. The Cardinals begin WHAC play with their home opener on March 26 with a series against UNOH. The following day the team hosts Aquinas for a 2-game series. The month concludes with a non-conference series against Miami-Hamilton on March 31 at home.
The new month beings with another 2-game series at home versus Cleary on April 2. The team heads on the road for a series at Indiana Tech before coming back home to host Madonna and Lourdes. The Cardinals will travel to rival Siena Heights, Cornerstone and UM-Dearborn before returning home to host Lawrence Tech. After a road trip to Rochester, the regular season ends with a non-conference series at Spring Arbor.
Concordia Personnel
Senior Abbie Begley competed in every game last year, leading the team with 38 runs and 73 hits along with 2 home runs and a .365 batting average. Junior Kate Elias had 7 runs and 11 hits while also recording 3 wins and 13 strikeouts as pitcher. Junior Koryn Playford had 33 runs, 51 hits, 1 home run and a .370 batting average. Junior Lauren Martin notched 10 runs and 20 hits. Junior Karley Kent had 6 runs and 7 hits along with a home run.
Sophomore Shannon McAlinden had a team-high 3 home runs and .411 batting average along with 30 runs and 58 hits. Sophomore Sarah Tyrrell had 12 runs and 24 hits along with a home run. Sophomore Cassidy Kane picked up 5 pitching wins in 64 innings while racking up 22 strikeouts. Sophomore Jada Stephenson had 6 runs and 8 hits along with a .296 batting average. Sophomore Kendall Kahl showed power with 2 home runs and 5 hits.
The Cardinals will have 12 new faces this year: junior transfers Kennedy Cornette and Dee Campbell, sophomore transfer Hannah Duchene, and freshmen Bella Lee, Caitlyn Traviglia, Lauryn Rhodea, Maddy Grueter, Mallory DuRussel, Megan Martin, Morgan Scott, Paige Anderson, and Payton Lewis.
5th-year head coach Hailey Cavanagh is joined by assistant coach Sam Capuzzi, graduate assistant Megan Laib, and student managers Kristie Wenk and Karina Gregory.
2021 Team Stats
