DWU leads slip away in sweep at SDSU

BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team saw leads slip away in back-to-back games, as the Tigers gave South Dakota State University as much as it could handle in a nonconference doubleheader Thursday in Brookings, S.D.

The Tigers led 3-0 early in game one before SDSU, an NCAA Division I program, got a walk-off 4-3 win. The finale remained scoreless until DWU took a 1-0 lead in the fifth. The Jackrabbits scored the final five runs to take game two 5-1. The losses snap DWU's eight-game win streak and drop the Tigers to 31-19 overall as the team gets ready to close out the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season.

The Tigers opened game one with three runs in the first inning, scoring two on a SDSU error. Senior Meghan Bovee (San Diego, Calif.) took advantage of runners on base to drive in a run on an RBI single. SDSU got one back in the second on an RBI groundout and tied the score with a pair in the third.

The score remained tied into the seventh inning when Baily Janssen singled home the game-winning run. Junior Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) took the loss on the mound after entering the game in the sixth inning. Loeppky (5-5) allowed one run on two hits, while striking out one. Freshman Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) started for DWU, allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out one.

Loeppky started on the mound in game two, holding the Jackrabbits off the board through four. After DWU took the lead on an error in the top of the fifth, SDSU scored three in the bottom half of the frame and added two in the sixth to secure the win. DWU was held to four hits including a triple from sophomore Paige Kinley (Worthington, Minn.).

Freshman Hallie Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) entered the game in the fifth inning and was charged with the loss. Misiaszek (12-6) allowed five runs on five hits and walked four in two innings of relief.

The Tigers close out the GPAC regular season on Senior Day against Nebraska Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. Saturday at McWhirter Field in Mitchell, S.D.