Softball looks to carry strong start into Tucson

MITCHELL, S.D. – Following their hottest start to a season in a decade, the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team will rely on veteran leadership and new faces to push their way through the 2020 season.

 The Tigers were picked to finish 10^th in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason poll. With six seniors and a plethora of young talent, DWU looks to exceed expectations this season.

 DWU returns two All-GPAC performers from a season ago which includes Adriana Thomason (Las Vegas, Nev.) as well as Alyson VanderPol (Mitchell, S.D.). Other returners that will make an impact this season include Mikael Smith (Brandon, S.D.), Alexis Konda (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Alyssa Garcia (L.A. Verne, Calif.), Chaydon Metzger (Larchwood, Iowa), Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Kindra Clark (Garretson, S.D.), Julia Kelly (Omaha, Neb.), Reagen Nebel (Hayti, S.D.), Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Kyllie Ramirez (Revillo, S.D.).

 VanderPol will be looked at as a leader on the mound following a solid junior season for the Tigers. The senior finished the 2019 season with 79.2 innings pitched, while posting an 8.61 ERA and tallying 31 strikeouts. At the plate, VanderPol posted a batting average of .352 while knocking in 11 runs on 19 hits.

 Thomason will look to build off a stellar freshman season, in which she led the team in batting average at .367, while notching 33 hits, five doubles, two homeruns and 20 runs driven in. The outfielder only committed two errors last season, while notching 21 putouts. Thomason has started in all ten games for the Tigers this season, tallying a .258 batting average, eight hits and two RBIs.

 Seniors such as Garcia, Smith and Konda will look to cap off their illustrious four-year careers with DWU. Garcia has started off strong, posting a .400 batting average through 10 games, while knocking in a homerun and six runs batted in. Smith has started her senior season off strong as well, tallying a .313 batting average through five games played thus far. The infielder will look to continue to build off that momentum to help lead the Tigers. Konda has started in five games, holding a .250 batting average, with four hits and five runs batted in.

 Returners and newcomers that have played a big impact on the 6-4 start to the season include pitcher Ramirez, who has already earned two wins on the season, while tallying 13 innings pitched and a 7.54 ERA. Freshman Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) started off strong for the Tigers as well. Else appeared in all 10 games thus far for DWU, while tallying an impressive .375 batting average, nine hits and four runs batted in. In the field, the freshman committed three errors, while notching 13 putouts. Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also jumped out to a hot start, as she currently has a .333 batting average, nine hits and seven runs batted in. In the field, Gabel has committed three errors while recording 10 putouts.

 As a team, they currently post a .259 batting average. The Tigers have connected on three homeruns so far in the season, as they have relied on small ball and 10 base hits to score runs. DWU played in the PC Dome Classic in back-to-back weekends, as they faced some challenging competition, including a pair of wins over No. 10 Valley City State University.

 DWU's next action will be against Jarvis Christian College and University of Antelope Valley tomorrow at the Tucson Invitational. The Tigers will play a pair of conference games against Dordt University while in Tucson. DWU is scheduled to open home play against Mount Marty College on March 21, while the season concludes against the College of Saint Mary at home on April 25.