Tiger softball sweeps Hastings on Senior Day

MITCHELL, S.D. – On their first home game of the season and Senior Day, the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team took down Hastings College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader. DWU won the first game 4-0, while winning the second game 5-4 Wednesday at Dr. McWhirter Field in Mitchell.

 The Tigers (13-21, 9-7 GPAC) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) doubled into center field, plating a run. Haage held the Broncos (9-31, 3-13 GPAC) in check throughout the game en route to a complete game shutout.

 In the bottom of the sixth inning, two Tigers scored after an error by the first baseman, followed by an Amber Budmark (Sacramento, Calif.) RBI single to push the Tigers to victory.

 Budmark finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Haage went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Paige Kinley (Worthington, Minn.) finished the game 1-for-2 with a run. Haage went the distance as she struck out eight batters and only allowed three hits.

 The Tigers found themselves in a two-run hole midway through the second game. However, Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Nev.) knocked a two-run double into left field to tie the ballgame. Two batters later, Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) singled into center field, bringing Severance home for another run.

 One inning later, Kinley nailed an RBI double to left field to extend the DWU lead. Budmark came up to the plate next and singled into left field, allowing Kinley to score on the play. Haage closed out the game in the top of the seventh inning to give the Tigers the series sweep.

 Severance went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, Gabel finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Kinley went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Haage pitched the complete game as she struck out four batters and allowed three earned runs.

 The Tigers host Dordt College in the final home game of the season at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at Dr. McWhirter Field in Mitchell.