Tigers conclude Kansas road trip with final two games
McPherson, Kan.– The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team battled both Bethel College and Tabor College as DWU concluded its third and final day of competition in Kansas. DWU fell short in both contests on Thursday in McPherson, Kan.
McPherson, Kan.– The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team battled Bethel College and Tabor College in nonconference, neutral-site action on Thursday as DWU concluded its third and final day of competition in McPherson, Kan.
The first game of the day slated the Tigers (8-8) versus Bethel as Dakota Wesleyan was unable to overcome a slow start and fell 5-1.
Despite a single by Adriana Thomason (Las Vegas, Nev.) and a walk drawn by Alyssa Garcia (La Verne, Calif.) in the top of the first inning, neither team managed a run as the game was scoreless entering the second inning. Dakota Wesleyan added another single to start off the second frame, however, the next three Tiger batters were punched out in order.
The Threshers (3-11) erupted in the bottom of the second frame as BC scored three runs on three hits and held the 3-0 lead.
DWU responded with its only run of the game in the top of the fifth as the Tigers sent six batters to the plate. Devany Farris (Cheyenne, Wyo.) kicked of the inning with a single. After the Threshers recorded the first out of the frame, Alyssa Burke (Rapid City, S.D.) and Thomason produced back-to-back singles to bring the score to 3-1.
Bethel answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to extend its lead to four, 5-1. With two chances to erase the Thresher's deficit, Dakota Wesleyan was unable to mount any comeback. In the top of the seventh inning, Burke and Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.) reached with two outs in the frame. However, the Tigers were unable to string together a rally as DWU fell 5-1 to BC.
In the second game of the day, Dakota Wesleyan lost versus Tabor College, 8-7.
After Tabor produced a run in the top half of the first frame, DWU went right to work and the Tigers responded with its best inning of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) tripled to right field followed by a double to center by Reagan Nebel (Hayti, S.D.) which broke the game wide open. A single to left field by Farris concluded the inning and Dakota Wesleyan controlled a 4-1 lead.
DWU added another run in the bottom of the second inning following a scoreless frame by the Blue Jays (4-16). Burke, who finished with two hits, led off the inning and reached for the second consecutive inning. Two batters later, Gabel batted in Burke and the score now read 5-1.
Tabor rallied back in the top of the third inning as TC scored four runs on five hits to even the score at 5-5.
Unphased, the Tigers bounced back in the final half of the fourth inning. Meaghan Valdivia (Phelan, Calif.) commenced the inning with a single followed by a double from Burke. After a pitching change by Tabor, Haley Linke (Mitchell, S.D.) reached on an infield single and DWU recorded two runs on three hits in the inning. Dakota Wesleyan held a 7-5 lead; however, it would be the last time the Tigers controlled the advantage.
In the top of the fifth frame, Tabor managed a trio of runs on three hits to reclaim the lead, 8-7. Farris reached via a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning and McElveny singled in the bottom of the sixth inning. Though, Dakota Wesleyan was unable to yield the equalizer as the Tigers suffered an 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays.
Gabel and Farris paced DWU on the day with a pair of RBIs while Burke added four hits and three runs scored.
Dakota Wesleyan is scheduled to host its home opener versus Dickinson State University at noon next Friday, March 19 in Mitchell, S.D.
