Tigers begin season at PC Dome Classic

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team kicked off the 2019 season at the PC Dome Classic against No. 25 Valley City State University, No. 24 University of Jamestown, Presentation College and Dakota State University Saturday and Sunday in Aberdeen, S.D.

Tigers begin season at PC Dome Classic

Team Stats

February 11, 2019

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team kicked off the 2019 season at the PC Dome Classic against No. 25 Valley City State University, No. 24 University of Jamestown, Presentation College and Dakota State University Saturday and Sunday in Aberdeen, S.D.

 In the first game of the weekend, VSCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after tallying a pair of runs in the second inning. Neither team added any runs until the sixth inning when the Vikings (4-0) hit a two-run homerun to take a 4-0 lead.

 Melysia Ortega (West Covina, Calif.) hit a single to reach base in the bottom of the sixth inning. But, the Tigers (1-3) could not score as they dropped the first game, 4-0.

 Ortega finished 1-for-2 at the plate, while Kindra Clark (Garretson, S.D.) went 1-for-2 as well. Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was tabbed with the loss as she pitched four innings, recorded two strikeouts and allowed four hits.

 In the second game of the day, DWU got the bats swinging early. Chaydon Metzger (Larchwood, Iowa.) doubled to deep left field to bring home a run. Two batters later, Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.) doubled to right field to bring home two more runs. Andriana Thomason (Las Vegas, Nev.) capped off the opening inning with a two-run homerun to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.

 In the next inning, Metzger doubled down the fight-field line to bring home two more runs, while another run crossed home plate later to give DWU an 8-0 lead.

 The Jimmies (4-1) added a run in the third inning and four runs in the fourth frame to make it an 8-5 ballgame. However, the Tigers cushioned their lead thanks to an Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.) and a Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) homerun.

 Jamestown added a pair of runs in the sixth inning and recorded a three-run seventh inning to force the game into extra innings. In the final frame, Jamestown completed the comeback with a run to take the game, 11-10.

 Metzger led the way going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run, while McElveny finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a home run. VanderPol went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs, as Gabel and Thomason added a home run apiece. VanderPol was tagged with the loss as she pitched three and a third innings with three strikeouts.

 On Sunday, the Tigers took on host school, Presentation (0-4). DWU scored early with a Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Nev.) hit, bringing home a run. Later in the opening frame, Alyssa Garcia (L.A. Verne, Calif.) singled to left field to bring home another run.

 The Tigers added four runs over the next two innings to hold a 9-0 lead. Ortega helped the Tigers put the game away with a grand slam to center field to take a 15-0 victory.

 Ortega went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and four RBIs, as Andriana Sprakel (Yankton, S.D.) finished 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and two runs. Haage was credited with the win after pitching four innings and only allowing two hits.

 In the final game of the weekend, DWU squared off against in-state rival DSU. The Trojans (1-2) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. But in the bottom of the frame, the Tigers cut the deficit in half after Metzger hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Sprakel home.

 DWU tied the game in the second inning thanks to a Peyton Senger (Sioux Falls, S.D.) single that scored Severance. However, DSU scored five runs in the fourth inning and two runs in the sixth to take the final game, 9-2.

 Senger finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, as VanderPol went 2-for-3 and Reagan Nebel (Hayti, S.D.) and Julia Kelley (Omaha, Neb.) finished 1-for-2 at the plate. Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.) pitched four innings and struck out two batters in the loss.

 The Tigers return to the PC Dome Classic on Friday and Saturday in Aberdeen, S.D.