Softball splits doubleheader with McPherson
MCPHERSON, Kan. – In another non-conference doubleheader the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team held on to defeat McPherson College 12-11 in game one, but lost the second game 10-9 after a late rally fell short on Wednesday in McPherson, Kan.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Wesleyan | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 18 | 2 |
| (RV) McPherson | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Wesleyan | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 1 |
| (RV) McPherson | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 1 |
MCPHERSON, Kan. – In another non-conference doubleheader the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team held on to defeat McPherson College 12-11 in game one, but lost the second game 10-9 after a late rally fell short on Wednesday in McPherson, Kan.
The first game saw plenty of action as the teams combined for 18 runs through the first three innings. Alyssa Garcia (L.A. Verne, Calif.) knocked an RBI single to center field to bring a run home, while Meghan Daffern (Tehachapi, Calif.) brought Garcia home with a double a few batters later.
After DWU put up five runs, the Bulldogs (7-7) added four runs in the bottom half of the first inning to keep the game a one-run ballgame.
After the first two batters popped out in the second frame, Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) doubled to left field, followed by a Garcia RBI single. Moments later, Daffern brought Garcia home for a second-straight inning to put the Tigers (8-6) up 7-4.
But McPherson kept pace with DWU after putting up a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the third, Garcia nailed a two-run double down the right-field line to spark another big inning for DWU.
However, the Bulldogs added two more runs in the bottom of the frame to stay just two runs behind the Tigers entering the back half of the game.
After DWU put up a run in the fifth frame, McPherson tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, Garcia came through once again as she knocked an RBI double to the outfield to bring the game-winning run home.
Garcia led the way going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored, while Daffern finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.
The second game saw the Tigers jump out to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Nora Nelson (Rapid City, S.D.) two-run single to right field.
Despite a strikeout and a double play in the bottom half of the first inning ended the frame quickly, the Bulldogs tallied six runs one inning later to hold a 6-5 advantage.
After McPherson added a pair of runs in the third frame, the Tigers needed a rally down three runs. DWU pulled within a run thanks to a fifth frame that saw a Haley Linke (Mitchell, S.D.) RBI double and a Gabel single that brought another run home.
Although the Bulldogs added an insurance run with one inning to play, the Tigers rallied and tied the game in the top of the seventh. But McPherson would not be denied as they notched the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to split the series.
Linke finished 3-for-5 with a run batted in and a run scored, as Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Alyssa Burke (Rapid City, S.D.) pitched six innings and struck out five batters.
DWU plays a pair of games tomorrow against Bethel College at 1 p.m. and Tabor College at 3 p.m. in McPherson, Kan.
