Sioux Center, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan softball team earned the split in their two-game set against Valley City State and York. DWU fell in game one against the Vikings by a score of 9-1. The Tigers struggled to get the bats going, only collecting five hits in the contest which was spread out between five different players. McKinnely Mull knocked in the lone run of the game which was scored by Reagan Grossi after a walk. On the mound Ivy Woolwine got the start and took the loss with her three innings of work giving up two earned. Grace Ortmeier came on relief and allowed seven runs in her two innings of work. Dakota Wesleyan was active on the base paths though when they got runners on, racking up three stolen bases in the contest.
Game two was a pitching duel between Keirstyn Krcil and the York's starter, Hardey who kept both respective teams off the scoreboard for the first four innings. In the fifth inning though the Panthers finally got on the scoreboard and broke the scoreless tie with a RBI single up the middle with two outs. The Tiger offense faced a 1-0 deficit which on paper doesn't seem like much, but to this point DWU had just one hit through the first four innings. The Tigers recorded two quick outs and looked to go down in order when Grossi ripped a double up the middle and past the diving Panther's shortstop. Elle Feser kept the inning alive and flipped the batting order with her infield hit, which brought up the scorching hot bat of Peyton Bagley. Bagley didn't disappoint the DWU faithful in attendance and watching online as she ripped a ball over the wall in dead center to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
Both teams stayed off the scoreboard in the sixth, resulting in DWU needing just three outs to secure the win. The first three batters for the Panthers all reached base, giving the away team bases loaded with nobody out. The ensuing batter laced a ball up the middle that deflected off Krcil and looked to score a run easy and leave the bases loaded with nobody out, but the Panther runner on second was sent home and was easily thrown out at the dish by Feser. York made it a one run game with a sac fly to center with the next batter. Dakota Wesleyan clinging to a one run lead with a runner on first and two outs, looked to put the Panthers away. The next York batter snuck a ball through the right side of the infield and was looking to give York runners on first and second, but again the runner rounded second and headed for third and was thrown out on a accurate strike from Brianna Dawson to secure the win 4-3 win for the Tigers and give Krcil her second complete game win of the season. Bagley's go ahead home run marked her fourth of the season in just nine games played.
Quick Stats Game 1 vs Valley City State:
Hitters-
- McKinnely Mull – 1 for 3, RBI, SB
Pitchers-
- Ivy Woolwine – 3.0 innings, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, - Loss
- Grace Ortmeier – 2.0 innings, 6 H, 7 ER, 4
BB
Quick Stats Game 2 vs York:
Hitters-
- Peyton Bagley – 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI
- Reagan Grossi – 1 for 3, 2B, SB, R
Pitchers-
- Keirstyn Krcil – 7.0 innings, 13 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K - Win
Up Next: The Dakota Wesleyan softball team is back in action with two more games in Sioux Center at the Dordt Dome. The first game is against Peru State at 12 p.m. followed by a matchup with Dakota State at 4 p.m.