Softball falls to Bulldogs in weekend tilt

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a Great Plains Athletic Conference road matchup with a nationally ranked team, the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team squared off against Concordia University, who sits in second place of the conference. DWU dropped the first game 8-0 and fell in the second game 10-2, Saturday in Seward, Neb.

 In the opening game of the day, the fielding of both teams was strong as neither team scored in the opening three frames. However, the Bulldogs (16-4, 5-1 GPAC) broke through with four runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth frame to take an 8-0 lead that carried them past DWU.

 Amber Budmark (Sacramento, Calif.) and Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) went 1-for-2 at the plate apiece to collect the two hits for DWU. Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) took the loss on the mound as she pitched seven innings and struck out a pair of batters.

 Adriana Thomason (Las Vegas, Nev.) kicked off the second game with an RBI single to put the Tigers (7-23, 2-8 GPAC) up a run. However, Concordia took the lead after plating three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

 After the Bulldogs added a run in the second inning and six runs in the third frame, the Tigers needed runs to continue the game. Thomason once again connected on an RBI single to right field to spark the DWU offense. But, the run was not enough as the Tigers fell in the second game.

 Thomason led the way as she went 3-for-3 with two RBIs at the plate. Andriana Sprakel (Yankton, S.D.) finished 2-for-3, while Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.), Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and Chaydon Metzger (Larchwood, Iowa) tallied a hit each. Farris pitched one and a third innings as she struck out two batters, while Kyllie Ramirez (Revillo, S.D.) struck out two batters in two frames pitched.

 DWU hosts Briar Cliff University for the home opener at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Mitchell, S.D.