Softball picks up three wins in opening weekend
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team finished the weekend 3-1 after splitting their games on Friday and winning both games on Saturday at the Presentation College Dome Classic in Aberdeen, S.D.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota St. | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Dakota Wesleyan | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #10 Valley City State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Dakota Wesleyan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Game 3
Game 3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Wesleyan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Dickinson St. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 1 |
Game 4
Game 4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Wesleyan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team finished the weekend 3-1 after splitting their games on Friday and winning both games on Saturday at the Presentation College Dome Classic in Aberdeen, S.D.
In the season opener, the Tigers (3-1) defeated Dakota State University, 6-3. It was a six-run first inning the guided DWU to the win.
Mikael Smith (Brandon, S.D.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Reagan Nebel (Hayti, S.D.) home for the opening score of the game. Senior Alexis Konda (Sioux Falls, S.D.) doubled to center field as her hit scored Alyssa Garcia (L.A. Verne, Calif.) and Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.).
The next batter up was freshman Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) as she smacked an RBI single to center field.
Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.) started on the mound and only allowed four hits and two earned runs through four innings of work. Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.) came in to pitch three innings and strike out three batters in the save.
The second game of the weekend pitted DWU against Dickinson State University, as the Blue Hawks downed the Tigers, 10-1.
DWU fell behind 2-0 after the second frame but could not muster up any offense. After the fourth inning, DWU trailed 5-0 and eventually lost after giving up five runs in the fifth frame.
The Tigers finished with three hits in the game, as Kyllie Ramirez (Revillo, S.D.) pitched 4.2 innings and struck out three batters.
It was pitching and defense that aided the Tigers in the second day as they defeated No. 10 Valley City State University, 2-1.
After allowing a first-inning run, the Tigers did not allow another run for the remainder of the game. In the third frame, it was Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) who smacked a double down the left-field line to bring a run home and tie the game.
One inning later, Julia Kelley (Omaha, Neb.) scored on a wild pitch to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage. The duo of Meghan Daffern (Tehachapi, Calif.) and Farris allowed just one earned run and struck out four batters in the contest.
In the final game of the weekend, DWU defeated the host school Presentation College, 4-2.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Gabel hit an RBI single to bring Else home. However, the Saints took a 2-1 advantage after the bottom half of the frame. But DWU rallied to score a run in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to take the final game of the weekend.
Through four games, Gabel finished 6-for-12 from the plate with three runs batted in and a run scored. Else went 3-for-10 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. On the mound, Farris pitched eight innings, recorded five strikeouts, allowed no earned runs and picked up a win and a save. VanderPol also pitched eight innings on the weekend as she recorded a strikeout, allowed just two earned runs and picked up a win.
DWU battles Presentation in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday in Aberdeen, S.D.
