TUCSON, Ariz. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team continued its hot play in the sunshine of Arizona, as the Tigers stayed perfect through eight games at the Tucson Invitational. DWU has won 10 straight overall and with 12 wins this season, the Tigers already have two more than all of last season.
The Tigers used three complete game pitching performances by three different starters to go 3-0 Tuesday. DWU opened the day with a 3-1 win over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, followed by a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Crown College (Minn.). The day was capped off by an 8-0 five-inning win over Marymount California University.
The wins push DWU to 12-8 overall and the 10-game winning streak is the longest on record dating back to 2005.
A pair of freshman standouts led DWU to the win over UWEC, as starting pitcher Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) continued to dominate on the mound for the Tigers. Haage pitched all seven innings against the Bluegolds, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out three. Haage (4-3) has won her last four decisions, including three in Tucson, all in complete-game fashion.
The offense was led by freshman shortstop Savannah Ahumada (Turlock, Calif.), who has been driving in runs as a clip never before seen at DWU. She drove home senior catcher Hailey Unger (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) twice in the first three innings, while senior Vanessa Mendez (Monterey Park, Calif.) added the other RBI to give Haage enough for the win. Ahumada has 24 RBIs already in 2016, while the total season record for runs knocked in is 37 set by Unger last year. Ahumada is also half way to the runs scored record at DWU of 36.
The Tigers finished with three runs on five hits with three errors in the win over UWEC.
Crown jumped on top 3-0 early against junior pitcher Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), but the veteran starter settled in and shut the door the rest of the way. The Tigers answered the early deficit with four runs in the third and another pair in the fifth to secure the win.
The Tigers were aggressive on the bases against Crown stealing six bases. Sophomore outfielder Paige Kinley (Worthington, Minn.) came through with two-run double in the third, while freshman Katylyne Dougherty (Maui, Hawaii) added an RBI single in the frame to put DWU in front for good. Ahumada added an RBI double and scored on a single from freshman Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Nev.) in the fifth. Loeppky, now 4-2 on the season, tossed all seven innings allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out five.
DWU had six runs on seven hits with one error against Crown.
The Tigers closed the day with a five-inning shutout win for freshman pitcher Hallie Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.). Misiaszek (3-1) pitched five innings, allowing just two hits and picked up three strikeouts. Senior outfielder Katy Lazenby (Mitchell, S.D.) picked up three hits, scoring two runs and knocking in another, while stealing a base for the DWU offense.
The big hit came off the bat of junior Elise Sutherland (Stansbury, Utah). With two outs and four runs already across the plate in the fourth, Sutherland ripped a two-run double to centerfield to help put MCU away.
The Tigers posted eight runs on 12 hits and no errors against MCU.
DWU concludes its time in Tucson with two more games Wednesday. The Tigers take on Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Midland University in a nonconference matchup at 1 p.m., while DWU plays Grace University for the fourth time this week at 3:30 p.m.
