DWU softball sweeps in-state rival

Yankton, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team swept in-state rival Mount Marty College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader as DWU won the first game 13-10, and took the second game 4-3 Wednesday in Yankton, S.D.

 The Lancers (7-15, 3-5 GPAC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after adding four runs in the first inning and a run in the second inning. However, the Tigers (7-17, 3-3 GPAC) came storming back with a nine-run fourth inning. Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) kicked off the scoring with a two-run homerun. Later in the inning, Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Nev.) singled, bringing home two runs. One batter later, Haage hit a double, plating two more runs for DWU.

 In the fifth inning, the Tigers added four more runs after Severance smacked a two-run single, followed by a Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) single that brought two runners home. MMC scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the comeback fell short as DWU took the first game.

 Haage finished the game 2-for-3 with a homerun and four RBIs, as Severance went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Gabel went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, while Andriana Sprakel (Yankton, S.D.) finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Haage went the distance on the mound as she struck out nine batters in the win.

 The second game saw less scoring than the first game as Amber Budmark (Sacramento, Calif.) knocked in a run after hitting a single in the third inning. In the top of the fifth, an error by the shortstop allowed for two Tigers to cross home plate. Later in the same inning, Gabel knocked in another run to give DWU a 4-0 lead. The Lancers attempted another comeback, but fell short.

 Budmark led the way as she went 1-for-2 with an RBI, as Gabel finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.) picked up the victory on the mound as she struck out eight batters.

 The Tigers take on Concordia University in a GPAC matchup at 1 p.m. Friday in Seward, Neb.