Tigers split on day one of GPAC tournament

CRETE, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team began play in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason tournament, splitting a pair of games Wednesday at Doane College in Crete, Neb.

The No. 3 seed Tigers started the day with a 5-0 shutout against No. 6 Dordt College with starting pitcher Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) picking up the win with a one-hitter. In the second game of the day, the Tigers took on No. 2 Doane, falling 4-1.

The loss to Doane moves DWU to the loser's bracket, where the Tigers will play an elimination game against the winner of Dordt and No. 7 Nebraska Wesleyan University in the opening game of play at noon Thursday. If the Tigers win, they will need to defeat Doane twice to extend their season.

Against Dordt, Haage dominated on the mound, allowing just one single and no walks. She went all seven innings and struck out six. Haage also got the DWU offense started in the win with an RBI single in the first inning.

The Tiger offense pulled away in the fifth starting with senior Katherine Lazenby (Mitchell, S.D.) scoring her second run of the game on an error. Freshman Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Neb.) delivered the crushing blow with a three-run home run straight over the centerfield fence. The home run was the sixth of the year for Severance.

The DWU offense was shut down in the second game of the day against the host team. Doane starting pitcher Ellie Doughty allowed just three Wesleyan hits, while striking out nine and giving up one earned run. After Doane took the lead in the first inning on an unearned run, the Tigers answered to tie the score on an RBI single from Lazenby in the third. Doane responded right away with a run in the bottom of the frame and added a pair in the fifth to pull away.

Haage (15-7) started for the second straight game, allowing four runs, three earned on five hits, while walking six in four and a third innings. Junior Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) shut down Doane in relief, setting down all five batters faced.

The split moves DWU to 33-21 overall on the season.