MITCHELL, S.D. – The Hastings College Broncos hit three home runs and scored 20 runs in a sweep of the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team Saturday at McWhirter Field in Mitchell, S.D.
The Tigers fell 9-4 in game one, while Hastings scored six in the opening inning of game two en route to an 11-3 win. The losses drop DWU to 23-17 overall and 6-6 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
DWU took its lone lead of the day with three runs in the first inning of game one, but Hastings responded with five in the second to move in front for good. Freshman pitcher Sierra Haage (Sioux Falls, S.D.) took the loss, allowing nine runs, six earned, on 15 hits, while walking one striking out three.
Haage led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with run scored. Senior Hailey Unger (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), freshman Karly Severance (Las Vegas, Nev.) and senior Katy Lazenby (Mitchell, S.D.) each added two hits.
Hastings scored nine runs in the first two innings, while Taylor Erlenbusch hit a pair of home runs for Broncos in game two. The loss went to freshman Hallie Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.), who allowed 10 runs, nine earned on 12 hits, while striking out three. Junior Lorissa Loeppky (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) pitched three strong innings out of the bullpen.
All three Tiger runs came on a double off the bat of freshman Savannah Ahumada (Turlock, S.D.) in the second inning. Ahumada has 39 RBIs this season, setting a new DWU single-season record. She finished with three hits in game two, while freshman Andriana Sprakel (Yankton, S.D.) added two hits.
The Tigers look to get back in the win column against Midland University at 1 p.m. Sunday at McWhirter Field.
