Tigers drop two games to Dordt

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In the Great Plains Athletic Conference opener, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team took on Dordt University. Despite a 5-1 record in neutral-site games entering the day, DWU dropped both games by scores of 5-2 and 10-6 on Friday at Bishop Mueller Field in Sioux City, Iowa.

 The game began slow for both teams as each pitcher faced just three batters in the first inning. However, a solo-shot homerun by the Defenders (9-11, 2-0 GPAC) in the top of the second frame gave them a 1-0 advantage.

 After Dordt tacked on another run in the top of the third inning, it was the Tigers (5-7, 0-2 GPAC) turn to score a run. In the bottom half of the third, Drew DeMers (Winner, S.D.) connected on an RBI single to center field to cut the DWU deficit in half.

 But just as it looked like the momentum was shifting towards the Tigers, Dordt brought two runs home in the top of the fourth frame to extend its lead to 4-1. DWU wasn't done yet as Dalton Wilcoxen (Council Bluffs, Iowa) drove Jacob Hammons (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) home in the bottom of the sixth inning to give life to the Tigers.

 However, the Defenders notched an insurance run in the top of the final frame and held off any chance of a DWU rally to take the opening game.

 Ethan Davis (Billings, Mont.) was tabbed with the loss on the mound as he pitched the entire game and struck out four batters, allowing four earned runs. At the plate, DeMers and Wilcoxen led the team as they each finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

 In game two, the Defenders jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first frame after recording two hits but stranded a runner on base. The Tigers answered in the bottom of the third inning as Hammons drove a run home with an RBI single.

 The momentum swung in favor of the Tigers as they took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth. Bradley Dean (Pierre, S.D.) drilled a two-run homerun over the left field fence to give DWU a 3-1 lead.

 But Dordt once again responded with three runs in the next half inning, highlighted by a two-run homerun of their own. Wilcoxen helped the Tigers tie the game in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single as the game stood tied at 4-4.

 In the bottom of the seventh inning, Luke LeMay (St. Paul, Minn.) brought a run home to return the lead to DWU, but the Defenders tied the game one-half inning later with a solo homerun.

 In the bottom half of the eighth, DeMers scored off a wild pitch to return the lead to the Tigers once again. However, a five-run top of the ninth for Dordt helped them seal the game-two victory.

 Cameron Quigley (Newcastle, Wyo.) finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, as Dean finished with a homerun with two RBIs and a hit.

 DWU returns to Sioux City to take on Briar Cliff University for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. tomorrow.