Tigers drop two in GPAC action to Concordia

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team dropped a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader to Concordia University, 4-1 and 12-7 on Saturday afternoon at Dr. McWhirter Field in Mitchell, S.D.

 Runs came at a premium for the Tigers in Game One. The Bulldogs (24-10, 8-4 GPAC) put up one run in the second inning while adding two more in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Tigers (12-25, 2-6 GPAC) made a late push in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run on three hits, but it wasn't enough for the home team.

 Andriana Sprakel (Yankton, S.D.) finished 2-for-3 with a run while Alize Martinez (Palmdale, Calif.) went 2-for-4. Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) pitched all seven innings as she took the loss, allowing an earned run off eight hits, while striking out one and walking three.

 Concordia got right to work in Game Two with four runs scored in the first inning. However, the Tigers answered with four runs of their own in the second inning to tie the game at four apiece. The Bulldogs pulled away in the seventh inning as they added four more runs to keep the Tigers out of striking distance.

 Melysia Ortega (West Covina, Calif.) went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Elise Sutherland (Stansbury, Utah) finished 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a home run and Andrea Konz (Mitchell, S.D.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) was tagged with the loss after tossing seven innings, allowing 11 earned runs off 16 hits, while striking out two and walking six.

 DWU was scheduled to take on Doane University on Sunday for a GPAC doubleheader, but was postponed due to impending weather conditions. The Tigers step out of conference play to take on in-state foe Dakota State University at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Madison, S.D.