Posted: Apr 22, 2022
Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan softball won the pitching duel in game one thanks to a solo shot from Peyton Bagley and an error by the Doane right fielder. In-game two despite garnering nine hits, it was not enough to overcome the three-deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Quick Details
Game One
DWU 2 – DOA 0
Game Two
DWU 3 – DOA 5
How It Happened
Game One
- Tava Boone was dealing through the first two full innings of play in game one allowing only one hit while notching three strikeouts.
- Doane's starting pitcher was also strong through the first two scoreless frames, not allowing a single hit.
- After a swift and clean top of the third from DWU, Bagley registered the first run of the game as she went long for a two-out solo home run to left-center field for the 1-0 lead.
- Doane posed a threat in the fourth inning after their leadoff batter reached first on a DWU error but were still held scoreless, stranding her on second base.
- The Tigers kicked off the bottom of the fourth with a walk from Adriana Thomason.
- Nora Nelson followed with a one-out walk, placing runners on the corners as DWU looked to strike again.
- Tianna Boone loaded the bases with one out as Haley Linke flied out to right field, but a throwing error by the Doane right fielder allowed Thomason to score for the 2-0 victory.
- Doane had their best chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning as the leadoff batter reached on a DWU error followed by a one-out walk.
- Doane then stranded the tying run on second.
- Bagley was 1-for-2 with one run, an RBI, and a solo home run.
- Thomason tallied the second run.
- Ta. Boone earned the shutout victory, tossing seven complete frames, allowing three total hits, and striking out 12-of-27 batters faced.
Game Two
- Katelyn Farris also set the Tigers in a great position for game two, only allowing two hits through the first two innings.
- DWU had a chance to post a run on the board early in the first inning; after Thomason was hit by a pitch and Nelson walked but the Tigers were not able to bring them in.
- Doane grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning after an error by the DWU shortstop.
- Mull was the answer in the bottom of the fourth inning as she led things off with a solo shot to left field and knotting the game at 1-1.
- The 1-1 deadlock was short-lived as Doane put two on and then; proceeded to hit a three-run shot over the fence in left field to lead 5-1 over DWU.
- Doane followed with a double to the right-center gap allowing one more to cross for the 5-1 lead.
- The Tigers earned one run back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Nelson hit a double to right-center allowing McKenna Thomason to score and cut the score to a 5-2 Doane advantage.
- DWU held Doane scoreless in the top of the seventh as they came to the plate for the final time.
- Bagley started things off by taking a walk to first after being hit by a pitch.
- Alyssa Burke followed with a single through the left side, placing runners on first and second.
- Adriana Thomason loaded the bases earning a walk as the Tigers had one out.
- Mull connected for a hardline drive that allowed Bagley to score the final run of game two as the Tigers fell 5-2.
- Mull was 3-for-4 with a run, two RBI, a home run, and a stolen base; Nelson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double.
- Farris was hit with the loss after working four complete innings and allowing five hits.
Up Next
Dakota Wesleyan softball enters the final week of the regular season beginning; on Tuesday, April 26. The Tigers will battle at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader against the Changers of Briar Cliff. The final game of the regular season, is slated for Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m. as Coach Lien and company honor their two seniors.