TIGER SOFTBALL SPLITS DAY TWO IN ARIZONA, CAPPING DAY TWO WITH A WALKOFF WIN
Tucson, Ariz. – Dakota Wesleyan softball had two walk offs today in the Arizona sun. The first walk off against York, they were on the wrong side of as they dropped the eight-inning game 6-5, but picked up the walk off win 5-4 against Dickinson State in seven innings.
The Quick Details
Score:
Game 1
DWU 5 – YC 6 (8 innings)
Game 2
DWU 5 – DSU 4
Records:
DWU 7-10
YC 6-4
DSU 4-4
How It Happened
Game 1
Dakota Wesleyan got rolling early in game one this morning with Alyssa Burke taking a stroll to first base before swiping second. Reagan Grossi reached first on an error by the third baseman allowing Burke to come around a put the first run on the board. Lena McCoy stepped in the box hitting a double to left field bringing Grossi home for the 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning. DWU didn't allow a single York runner in the bottom of the inning as the Panthers went three-up and three-down. Meghan Daffern reached first on an error in the second inning for the first runner aboard. Jaden Warner singled to right field allowing pinch runner McKenna Thomason to score after another Panther error was made and pushing Warner to second on that error. Burke then singled driving in another run for DWU to lead 4-0 after an inning and a half of play. The shutout lead was short lived in the bottom of the second as York led things off with a double before a single putting runners on the corners with no outs. York tallied their first run on a sac hit cutting the margin to 4-1 with no outs. YC grabbed two more runs in the second inning on an error and a fielder's choice, cutting the margin in one run, 4-3 while DWU stranded three York runners on base. Both the Tigers and Panthers had a quiet third and fourth inning, while York grabbed two more run in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead 5-4. In the seventh inning, Burke represented the tying run as she reached base on a single to right field before stealing second and third putting DWU in position to knot the game. Peyton Bagley walked to first as she represented the game winning run. With two runners on and no outs, Jordyn Blogg hit a sac fly to left field allowing Burke to score and putting Bagley on second. With the game tied 5-5, the Tigers stranded the winning run-on base as they next two DWU batters popped out and struck out looking. York was unable to get the walk off win in the seventh as the Tigers and Panthers headed to extras. Kaylie Mathiasen was placed on second to start the inning per the international tie breaker rules, but it wasn't enough as DWU was able to push Mathiasen to third base before leaving her there. York also placed a runner on second to start the bottom of the eighth inning. Starting things off with a sac bunt pushing their runner to third, they dropped a single into right field for the walk off win against the Tigers.
Meghan Daffern tossed seven complete innings allowing seven hits, five runs, two walks, and striking out one batter on 34 batters faced. Danielle Ratute tossed 0.1 innings allowing the final run.
Beyond the Results
- Alyssa Burke: 2-for-3, two runs, one RBI, three stolen bases
- Lena McCoy: double
- Jordyn Blogg: sac fly, one RBI
Game 2
In game two of the day, DWU had to battle from behind early after Dickinson State got on the board with a two-run home run. McKinnely Mull lead off the Tigers reaching first on a DSU error before Grossi doubled to left field bringing Mull home to trail by one. DWU allowed another Bluehawk home run in the second inning while stranding one more runner on base to keep the margin at 3-1. The bottom of the third inning the Tigers came alive, putting up three runs as Hailey Linke grabbed a pair of RBI and Blogg hit a sac fly to lead 4-3. DSU hit yet another home run in the top of the sixth inning to left field, tying the game at 4-4. Dakota Wesleyan was able to walk it off with one out on the board as McCoy singled to left field giving Mull the easy trot home to end the ball game.
Katelyn Farris tossed a complete seven inning game, allowing eight hits, four runs, four walks, striking out three batters, and giving up three home runs.
Beyond the Results
- Reagan Grossi: 2-for-3, one run, one RBI, and a double
- Lena McCoy: 1-for-1, one RBI
- Haley Linke: double
Up Next
Dakota Wesleyan softball is back at it again tomorrow with two more games. The Tigers will start their day early again with a 10 a.m. first pitch against St. Francis before taking on Dickinson State again at 4:30 p.m..