The Defenders split games against the Valley State University Vikings and the York University Panthers on Friday night in the ASB Sports Complex in SIoux Center, Iowa.
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Vikings struck early as their first three batters all reached and came around to score. Dartnell would hit an infield single, Kuklinski would walk, and Gronberg would single to load the bases all before the Defenders recorded an out. During the very next at bat, Crocker hit a single to right field to plate home Dartnell, Spessard reached on a fielder's choice and Kuklinski would score as a result of an error on Defender shortstop,
Alyssa Villa. Dordt would record the first out of the inning after Zander grounded out to Villa at short but Gronberg would score on the play to make the score 3-0 before the bottom half of the first. Dordt wouldn't score in the first as they were set down in order. The Defenders didn't give up much after that allowing just three hits until the Vikings would score again in the fifth inning after Zander would hit a solo home run to left field. Dordt would get a run back in the bottom half of the fifth to make the score 4-1 after
Brooke Rule reached on an error by Vikings' third baseman, DePoorter.
Karli Olsen singled to but Rule in scoring position and
Aurora Tyson singled to center field that scored Rule. Valley City State would get an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a ground ball that scored O'Laughlin.
By the numbers:
- Dordt scored one run on three hits with two errors
- Valley City State scored five runs on 11 hits and had one error
- Lauren Steenstra had one double; Karli Olsen and Aurora Tyson each had a single
- Alexa Kopaska (L, 0-5) pitched 6.0 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits. Kopaska struck out five and walked two
- Jadyn Faber pitched 1.0 inning and only gave up two hits
- Gronberg (W, 1-1) pitched 7.0 innings and gave up one run on three hits with five strike outs and two walks
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dordt got off to a quick start, scoring two runs in the first inning against York. After a
Karli Olsen walk, she took a hard turn at first and took second. Olsen would then advance to third on a wild pitch and
Aurora Tyson would drive in Olsen on an RBI single.
Ashtyn Grissom drove in Tyson on an RBI double to right center field. They would score again after
Sierra Pirkey was hit by a pitch and stole second, putting her in scoring position for
Brooke Rule. Rule hit a triple that scored Pirkey and the Defenders took a 3-0 lead.
Aurora Tyson would hit a lead off single to center in the top of the third and after a
Chloe Kreuz sacrifice bunt, Tyson was standing at second. It didn't matter if she was in scoring position or not as
Ashtyn Grissom hit a two-run homer to left center field to extend the lead 5-0. However, York began to work their way back after they strung together a few hits and Torstensen and Taylor came around to score and make it 5-2.
Everything began to click for the Defenders offensively as they would plate home five runs in the next inning.
Sierra Pirkey worked a lead off walk and
Brooke Rule hit a double to put runners on second and third.
Karli Olsen singled to score Pirkey.
Chloe Kreuz hit an RBI single to score Olsen from third.
Lauren Steenstra hit a 2 RBI single to would plate both Grissom and Kreuz to go up 10-2. Both teams would score one more run.
Brooke Rule reached first on an error and advance all the way to third and was then driven in on a ground out hit by
Aurora Tyson. York scored in the bottom of the fifth after Anderson drove Ayala in but were unable to avoid the run rule and Dordt won 11-3.
By the numbers:
- Dordt scored 11 runs on 11 hits and didn't commit any errors
- York scored three runs on nine hits and committed one error
- Ashtyn Grissom was a triple away from the cycle after hitting a single, double, and home run
- Brook rule hit a double
- Chloe Kreuz, Ashtyn Grissom, Kacie Karsak, and Sierra Pirkey all stole one base
- Chloe Kreuz (W, 2-2) pitched 5.0 innings and give up three runs on nine hits and didn't record a strike out
- Roe (L, 0-1) pitched 3.1 innings and gave up 10 runs on 10 hits, struck out two and walked three
- Alvarez pitch 1.2 innings and gave up one run on one hit
The Defenders record improves to 2-7 and they will play tomorrow, February 17, against Peru State at 10 am and Dakota State at 2 pm.
