DWU Softball Looks to Build on Program’s Best Season

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team had the best season in program history in 2014 and the Tigers are looking to build on confidence gained this season.

In his third year with the team, DWU Head Coach Ed Kieff guided the upstart Tigers to a 22-18 record in 2014. The 22 wins were the most in program history and moved Kieff to the top of the wins list among DWU coaches in just three seasons. The 22 wins not only set a new standard for DWU, but gave the program just its second-winning season on record. The program has been a part of Tiger athletics since 1976 with an 11-year hiatus from 1984 to 1995.

The Tigers also broke through last season with its first win in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason tournament, topping Dordt College 8-2. Three players were named to the All-GPAC First Team, the most in school history, while five total Tigers were given All-GPAC honors.

"We have improved each season as a team over the last three years and I expect we will see more improvement this year especially in our power numbers," Kieff said. "We should also see good improvement in our team average at the plate. We always strive to cut down on strikeouts and this season is no different."

Entering his fourth season, Kieff is looking to continue the Tigers' climb to the top of the GPAC. He returns three All-GPAC performers, including First-Team members Hailey Unger (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) and Danielle Klassen (Niverville, Manitoba, Canada).

Unger, a junior catcher, hit .377 with a team-high six home runs and three triples. Unger added 28 RBIs and 25 walks, while striking out just 12 times in 102 plate appearances. She carried a .982 fielding percentage for the season, committing just four errors.

Klassen, a senior outfielder, had the highest batting average of any returning Tiger at .378. She finished 2014 with 13 doubles, two triples and three home runs to go along with 27 stolen bases and 36 runs scored, both of which set new school records. Kieff said he would not be surprised to see Klassen surpasses her own excellence on the base paths this season.

Katie Anderus (Lancaster, Calif.) was named to the All-GPAC Second team in 2013 and returns for her senior season for the Tigers at second base. Anderus batted .269 with 10 RBIs last season. Infielder Bailey Gummer (De Smet, S.D.) will also bring senior leadership to DWU after an All-GPAC Honorable Mention season last year. She hit .308, with 19 RBIs in 78 plate appearances for DWU last year.

The Tigers will have to fill holes left by the departure of leading hitter Lindy Snook and top pitcher Jill Dickson.

Kieff said his hitters will need to put up some runs to help out a young pitching staff led by sophomores Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) and Krista Huber (Mitchell, S.D.). Freshman Karlee Jenkins (Palmdale, Calif.) also figures to see some time in the circle for DWU this season.

The addition of sophomore transfer Katy Lazenby (Mitchell, S.D.) will add speed to the Tiger lineup, while Kieff said sophomore transfer Elise Sutherland (Stansbury, Utah) has the ability to hit double-digit home runs. Other key contributors for the season will include senior outfielder Devinne Facile (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and senior shortstop Natalie Gutierrez (Monterey Park, Calif.).

"Our strength without a doubt is in our senior group," Kieff said. "Their experience will help us in the tough moments of games where it could go either way. We really need to improve on our power numbers and cut way down on our strikeouts. Our pitching staff will be tested consistently, so we really need them to step it up again this year."

The Tigers have played three games so far in 2015, going 1-3 over two days last month in Rochester, Minn., picking up a win over Southwest Minnesota State University. DWU heads south for 12 games in six days at the Tucson Invitational starting Saturday in Tucson, Ariz. The Tigers open the event against the University of Great Falls at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday.