Tucson trips starts with three Tiger wins

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team arrived in Arizona for its annual trip to the Tucson Invitational on the heels of a sweep in the Tigers' home opening doubleheader. DWU kept the momentum rolling as to reach five-straight wins for the first time since 2014.

The Tigers (7-8) took the opening two games, 7-4 over Grace University and a 6-3 win over Valley City State University, on the back of dominant starting pitching. In a second matchup with Grace, the DWU bats came alive with a 10-run third inning leading to a 13-2 win in five innings for the Tigers in the day one finale.

In the opener against Grace, senior catcher Hailey Unger (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while junior Kelly Taylor (Dublin, Calif.) provided the big blast with a home run in the fifth. Starting pitcher Hallie Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) tossed the first four and two thirds innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, while walking one and striking out six. Misiaszek is 2-1 on the season.

The Tigers finished game one with seven runs on 14 hits and two errors.

DWU got a touch of revenge for two losses earlier this season with a win over VCSU in the second game of the day. Freshman Amber Budmark (Sacramento, Calif.) got DWU on the board with an RBI double in the first, while Unger added an RBI double in the second to help DWU build a 3-0 lead.

The Tigers carried a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning as freshman starting pitcher Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was untouchable in the early going. The Vikings scored three late to close the gap, but Haage held on for the complete game win. Haage is now 3-3 on the season, winning her last three starts in complete game fashion. She allowed three runs on nine hits, while striking out six against the Vikings.

DWU totaled six runs on 10 hits with one error in the win over VCSU.

In the finale, DWU turned to Taylor on the mound in a rematch with Grace. The Royals picked up a pair of runs to lead 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third, which is where DWU took over. The Tigers sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs in the frame, with DWU picking up five straight bases-loaded singles. With three more runs in the fourth DWU closed out the run-rule win.

Freshman Paige Kinley led DWU with three hits, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored in the win, while Taylor and freshman Alyssa Green (Mitchell, S.D.) each added two hits. Freshman MacKayla Nohr (Box Elder, S.D.) had a team-high three RBIs in the win. Taylor (1-2) picked up the win, while junior Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) tossed thje final two innings, striking out three batters.                                              

DWU posted its third double-digit hit game of the season with 13 runs on 15 hits and one error.

The Tigers take on Grace yet again in the first game for the team at 1 p.m. CT Sunday in Tucson, Ariz.