DWU SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH THE LANCERS ON A SUNNY BUT BREEZY DAY IN YANKTON
April 2, 2023

DWU SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH THE LANCERS ON A SUNNY BUT BREEZY DAY IN YANKTON

Yankton, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan softball got the job done in game one against the Lancers of Mount Marty Sunday afternoon, picking up the split behind great outings from Meghan Daffern and hot bats from several Tigers game one.

 

The Quick Details

Score:

Game 1

DWU 5 – MMU 3

Game 2

DWU 5 – MMU 8

 

Records

DWU 6-21 (GPAC 1-7)

MMU 8-11 (GPAC 1-3)

 

How It Happened

Game 1

The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers played their first GPAC games of the 2023 season outside against Mount Marty and it was an action-packed game one. DWU was considered the home team for the day even though it was hosted at MMU, and the Tigers allowed one runner on base in the top of the first inning via walk before stranding her on second. DWU came to bat in the bottom of the inning with Alyssa Burke led things off with a single through the left side giving the Tigers their first hit of the game. After a wild pitch, and a walk, DWU had runners on second and third with no outs. After a strikeout by the Lancer's pitcher, MMU's catcher had a passed ball allowing Burke to score and McKinnely Mull to head to third. Both DWU and MMU went three up and three down in the second inning before Mount Marty stranded bases loaded in the top half of the third and two more runners in the top of the fourth. The sunshine and breezy weather in Yankton was favoring the Tigers in the fourth inning after Jaden Warner crossed home on a passed ball followed by a Sophie Wietzema two run shot to left field, giving DWU a 4-0 lead. Mount Marty cut the lead in half in the fifth inning on a ground rule double scoring one run and then a stand up double for the second run. The Lancers tallied one more run on an RBI single in the sixth inning as they trailed 4-3 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Meghan Daffern led DWU off in the bottom with a double before taking third on another MMU passed ball. Wietzema then reached first on a dropped third strike placing runners on first and third with one out. Wietzema was tossed out attempting to steal second, but Daffern crossed home on the throw down for the final run of the game as the Tigers secured the game one win 5-3.

Daffern tossed the complete game allowing seven hits, three runs, four walks, and striking out four batters. She threw 105 total pitches and faced 33 batters in the win.

 

Beyond the Results

 

Game 2

DWU picked up in game two where they left off, driving in three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a bases loaded walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly to lead the Lancers 3-0 early. DWU made quick work of MMU in the second inning before the Tigers left a runner on third. With both Dakota Wesleyan and Mount Marty leaving minimal runners on base for the next few innings, the Tigers were able to put up another run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double to center field by Jaden Warner for the 4-0 lead heading into the fifth. Mount Marty opened the fifth inning with a leadoff walk. The Lancers posted runners on the corners, but a Katie Farris did her job and stuck out the side keeping the Lancers scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Tigers had a chance to extend their lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning, after Jordyn Blogg reached first on an error and Farris walked for runners on first and second, but they both got stranded as DWU continued to hold a 4-0 lead over the Lancers. It wasn't until the top of the seventh MMU began scoring runs as they put up eight runs on eight hits between three different Tiger pitchers to lead 8-4 over DWU. In the bottom of the seventh Peyton Bagley led things off for DWU with a hard-hit single to third base then stole second placing her in scoring position. Reagan Grossi was able to move her to third on a groundout to first. Bagley came in to score on a passed ball, closing the margin to 8-5 as DWU fell in game two.

Farris tossed six innings allowing 11 hits, four runs, one walk and striking out four batters. Keirstyn Krcil came in for two batters allowing one hit. Daffern stepped back into the circle to close out game two tossing one inning facing six batters and allowing three hits, two runs and striking out one. Krcil was tabbed with the loss in game two after allowing the MMU go ahead run to score.

 

Beyond the Results

 

Up Next

Dakota Wesleyan University is back in action on Wednesday, April 5 in Jamestown, N.D.. The Tigers will face off in a double header against the University of Jamestown starting at 3 p.m..

Box Score Box Score

Team Stats