Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan earned a dominant 12-3 win over Mount Marty in their conference season opener. The Tigers return home with 2 wins from their double header against the Lancers. In Game 2 Dakota Wesleyan powered past Mount Marty with a commanding win of 17-9.
Game 1 Final Score:
- Dakota Wesleyan: 12 Runs, 13 Hits, 2 Errors
- Mount Marty: 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error
Scoring Summary:
Top of the 2nd Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: Sophie Wietzema hit a solo home run to center field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Top of the 3rd Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: Ashlen Johnson launched a two-run home run to center field, driving in Alessandra Ciurca, extending the lead to 3-0.
Top of the 5th Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: Sophie Wietzema came through again with a grand slam, scoring McKinnely Mull, Ashlen Johnson, and Alessandra Ciurca to make it 8-2.
Top of the 6th Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: Peyton Bagley singled in Liliana Arreola, and McKinnely Mull added a two-run homer to further extend the lead to 11-3.
Dakota Wesleyan's Alison Ernsberger pitched 6 strong innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts to earn the win for the Tigers.
Game 2 Final Score:
- Dakota Wesleyan: 17 Runs, 20 Hits, 2 Errors
- Mount Marty: 9 Runs, 8 Hits, 1 Error
Scoring Summary:
Top of the 1st Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: McKinnely Mull doubled to left field, driving in Peyton Bagley to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
- Dakota Wesleyan: Sophie Wietzema singled to left field, driving in Mull to extend the lead to 2-0.
- Dakota Wesleyan: Macy Moore singled to first base, bringing in Jaycee Tebay and Ashlen Johnson, and Wietzema scored, pushing the lead to 3-0.
- Dakota Wesleyan: McKenna Thomason singled, driving in Moore and Johnson, making it 5-0.
Top of the 2nd Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: Sophie Wietzema homered, a two-run shot, bringing in McKinnely Mull to extend the lead to 7-0.
- Dakota Wesleyan: Jaycee Tebay hit a sac fly to right field, bringing in Ashlen Johnson to make it 8-0.
Bottom of the 2nd Inning:
- Mount Marty: Megan Toplovich doubled in Janeah Castro to put the first run on the board for Mount Marty, cutting the lead to 8-1.
3rd Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: McKinnely Mull singled to left field, bringing in Peyton Bagley to make it 9-1.
- Dakota Wesleyan: Ashlen Johnson hit a 3-run homer, driving in Mull and Alessandra Ciurca, making it 12-1.
Top of the 4th Inning:
- Dakota Wesleyan: Madison Moore advanced to third, and Moore scored on a passed ball, making it 13-1.
- Dakota Wesleyan: Peyton Bagley singled, driving in Madison Moore to extend the lead to 14-1.
- Dakota Wesleyan: McKinnely Mull hit a 3-run homer, scoring Ciurca and Bagley, pushing the Tigers' lead to 17-1.
Bottom of the 4th Inning:
- Mount Marty: Jayden Simpkins homered, driving in Castro, making it 17-3.
Bottom of the 5th Inning:
- Mount Marty: Abby Johnson doubled, driving in Alyssa Sosky to make it 17-4.
- Mount Marty: Kayleen Jacinto reached on an error by the pitcher, advancing to third and scoring unearned on a throw, cutting the lead to 17-5.
- Mount Marty: Janeah Castro hit a 2-run homer, bringing in Jacinto, making it 17-7.
- Mount Marty: Jayden Simpkins homered again, driving in Olivia Valdez to bring the score to 17-9.
Dakota Wesleyan was led by strong contributions come from their lineup, including a 5-RBI performance from McKinnely Mull. Keirstyn Krcil earned the pitching win, throwing 5 innings and allowing 8 hits and 9 runs while striking out 3.
Looking Ahead:
The Tigers will return next week against College of Saint Mary at home for a double header. This will be the first home game for the Tigers softball team. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm.