Softball closes regular season on the road

OMAHA, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team concluded the regular season with a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader against the College of St. Mary as DWU won the first game 5-4, but dropped the second game 5-4, Saturday in Omaha, Neb.

 The third inning saw plenty of action as the Tigers (15-23, 11-9 GPAC) plated four runs. Melysia Ortega (West Covina, Calif.) nailed a grand slam over the center-field fence to begin the scoring. In the bottom of the inning, the Flames (14-28, 5-15 GPAC) cut into the DWU lead with two runs of their own.

 CSM made it a one-run game with another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, the Tigers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Ortega singled through the left side, bringing a run home to push DWU to victory.

 Ortega finished 3-for-5 with five RBIs and a run, while Andriana Sprakel (Yankton, S.D.) finished 2-for-4 with a run and Paige Kinley (Worthington, Minn.) went 1-for-4 with a run. Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) went the distance on the mound as she struck out four batters and allowed four runs.

 In the second game, the Flames took a 3-0 lead after the second inning. They added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-0 game. But the Tigers used a four-run fifth inning to tie the game. Regan Nebel (Hayti, S.D.) singled to the shortstop, as Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.) scored. Moments later, a fielding error allowed for three Tigers to come home to tie the game.

 The Flames would prevail in the contest as they added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the second game from the Tigers. Chaydon Metzger (Larchwood, Iowa) finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs, while Nebel went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.) was tabbed with the loss as she pitched five innings, struck out a batter and allowed three earned runs.

 The Tigers will play Dordt College in the first round of the GPAC Tournament at 12 p.m. Friday in Fremont, Neb.