TIGER SOFTBALL FALLS TO SAINTS IN THE PC DOME
Aberdeen, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan softball came alive in game two, but the errors down the stretch hurt the Tigers when they needed the outs.
The Quick Details
Game 1
Score:
DWU 7 – PC 15 (6 Innings)
Game 2
Score:
DWU 12 – PC 13
Records:
DWU 2-7
PC 3-5
How It Happened
Game 1
McKinnely Mull got the Tigers rolling in the top of the first with a double to left field before swiping third shortly after giving the Tigers a chance to strike first with one out. Kaylie Mathiasen posted runners on the corners with two outs before stealing second. DWU stranded both runners on base as the third out was recorded in the next at bat. Presentation College drove runners across first, scoring five runs on three hits with a bases clearing double and a homerun for the 5-0 lead over the Tigers. DWU clawed back in the second, putting up a trio of runs on one hit. The lone hit was a Lena McCoy homerun to left center field, her first on the season. The Saints then proceeded to walk the next three batters loading the bases before Mull reached first on an error by the pitcher. Bagley sent a shot out to center field scoring the final run across the plate as they trailed the Saints 5-3 after two full innings. After three scoreless innings and the Tigers still trailing 3-5, Pc add a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth pushing their lead to 8-3. DWU got hot in the sixth inning as leadoff batter McCoy reached on a Saints error followed by a Nora Nelson double to right field placing runners on second and third with no outs. After a pair of pop ups and now two outs on the board, Alyssa Burke hit an RBI single, followed by a double from Mull and a double from Bagley putting the Tigers in striking distance at 8-7. In the bottom of the inning the Saints quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth as the Tigers walked the first three batters faced, calling for a timeout from first year head coach Tommy Downs to make a pitching change. The Saints grabbed the extra runs needed in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab the win over the Tigers.
In game one, Mull was 3-for-4 with a run and three RBI with a double and a stolen base. McCoy went 1-for-3 with two runs, one RBI and a homerun. Katelyn Farris was tagged with the loss in game one after tossing 4.2 innings.
Game 2
The Tigers started slow again in game two of the day, allowing a run to score on an error to right field that put the batter on third in the end. PC grabbed two more run in the bottom of the inning to lead DWU 3-0. Dakota Wesleyan answered back in the top of the second inning, as Jaden Warner hit a leadoff triple to right field followed by Nelson's single. Nelson then swiped second base putting runners on second and third with no outs before McCoy grounded out to short stop allowing Warner to cross home, cutting the margin to 3-1. Mull stepped to the plate with two outs driving in a single run on a double to left field putting runners on second and third. Alyssa Burke backed that up with a single to right field allowing a run to cross and putting runners on the corners as the Tigers were now tied with the Saints 3-3. DWU continued to hit well and capitalize on their chances as Mull scored on a Saints error moving Burke to second before she stole third base. Meghan Daffern ripped a single into left field putting the Tigers head, 5-3. PC grabbed a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning knotting the game at 5-5 while the Saints stranded runners on the corners. After a scoreless third inning from the Tigers and Saints, DWU grabbed the lead again as Burke triples to right field allowing Mull to score from second base for a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, PC crossed four run in the fourth inning with no outs and bases loaded as Daffern stepped into the circle to pitch. Daffern got out of half inning, with only two more PC runs crossing as the Tigers trailed 11-6 heading into the top of the fifth. DWU went three-up and three-down in the fifth before only allowing one PC hit in the bottom of the inning. Dakota Wesleyan needed momentum here in the sixth inning and they started getting something rolling. McCoy led things off with a single to right field, followed by another single to left by Linke. With a pair of runners on and no outs, Blogg sent a shot to left field allowing McCoy to score and cutting the margin to four runs, 11-7 with no outs. Mull also singled in her at bat cutting the margin even more with a one RBI single to center field for an 11-8 margin. Bagley hits a ground rule double sending two more runs across the plate. Sophie Wietzema drove the tying and winning run across the plate with one swing of the bat as she doubled to center field for the 12-11 lead. Presentation knotted the game with one out on a sac fly to right field as we head to the seventh and final inning. The Tigers were unable to bring one of their two runners across as the Saints grab the walk off win on a Tigers error at first 13-12.
Mull and Burke led the Tigers in game two both going 2-for-5. Mull had three runs, two RBI, a double, and a stolen base. Burke posted two runs, three RBI, a triple, and a stolen base. Farris was hit with the loss after tossing 3.0 innings.
Up Next
Dakota Wesleyan softball is back in action on Friday, March 3 as they begin their commute to Arizona for the Spring Break games. The Tigers will stop in Salina, Kansas for a two-game series against Kansas Wesleyan. DWU and KWU will get under way in game one at 2 p.m. with the second game to get underway approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
