Softball splits Senior Day doubleheader with Saint Mary

MITCHELL, S.D.– In a Senior Day doubleheader with the College of Saint Mary, the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team split the two games as CSM won the first 10-8, while DWU run-ruled the Flames in the second game 10-0 on Saturday from Dr. McWhirter Field in Mitchell.

 The Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader began with DWU jumping on the scoreboard first after an Alyssa Garcia (La Verne, Calif.) RBI double to center field. One inning later, Reagan Nebel (Hayti, S.D.) brought two runs home with a hit, but was called out trying to advance to second base.

 With the Tigers (10-26, 2-18 GPAC) holding a 3-0 lead, CSM responded with a solo-shot homerun in the top of the third to pull within two runs.

 The Flames (9-31, 4-18 GPAC) took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth thanks to five runs, highlighted by four RBI singles. The Tigers drew one run closer in the bottom half of the frame after a bases-loaded walk.

 With one inning to play, CSM notched four more runs, putting the Tigers in a five-run hole. However, Haley Linke (Mitchell, S.D.) hit a sac fly to center field to bring a run home to begin the scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Two batters later, Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) scored on a wild pitch. Following a pitching change, Reagan Grossi (Vail, Ariz.) knocked an RBI single to bring a run home and pull the Tigers within two runs. However, this was as close as the Tigers got as they dropped the opening game.

 Nebel and Grossi each finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Linke added a run batted in. Alyssa Burke (Rapid City, S.D.) pitched 3.2 innings and struck out a batter.

 In game two, both team's pitching got off to a hot start as neither team plated a run in the first two innings. However, the Tigers notched eight runs in the bottom of the eighth to open the game. Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.) recorded an RBI single followed by a Garcia RBI single.

 Meghan Daffern (Tehachapi, Calif.) came to the plate moments later to bring a pair of runs home on a single to right field. The Tigers recorded eight runs on three hits in the inning to hold a commanding 8-0 lead.

 In the bottom of the fourth, Gabel connected on an RBI single followed by an RBI single be Lena McCoy (Estherville, Iowa) to push the lead to 10 runs. The Tigers took care of business in the top of the fifth to complete the game in five innings to pick up the Senior Day series split.

 Both Linke and Daffern finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs, as Gabel went 2-for-2 with a run batted in and a run scored. Daffern picked up her first win on the mound as she pitched all five innings and struck out two batters and allowed no runs.

 DWU finishes its season with a doubleheader against (RV) Concordia University beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow from Dr. McWhirter Field in Mitchell.