Tigers drop doubleheader to Midland

FREMONT, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team kicked off the weekend with a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader against No. 21 Midland University as DWU dropped the first game 7-1, and lost the second game 6-1 Friday in Fremont, Neb.

 The Warriors (14-4, 4-0 GPAC) tallied a run in the bottom of the second inning to hold a 1-0 lead. However, the Tigers (7-21, 2-6 GPAC) knotted the game in the top of the fourth frame as Amber Budmark (Sacramento, Calif.) nailed a solo shot homerun over the left field fence.

 Midland took control when they scored five runs in the fifth inning to run away with the opening game of the day.

 Budmark led the way as she finished 1-for-3 at the plate with a homerun, as Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Nev.) went 1-for-2 at the plate. Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.) pitched six innings, as she struck out two batters.

 After Midland took a 1-0 lead in the second game, the Tigers tied the game after Severance singled to left field, bringing a run home. The Warriors added three runs in the bottom half of the frame and two runs in the fifth inning to take game two from DWU.

 Severance went 2-for-4 with a run batted in, while Budmark finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.) and Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) went 2-for-3 apiece. VanderPol pitched five innings and struck out two batters.

 The Tigers take on Concordia University beginning at noon in Seward, Neb.