The Dordt Defenders won a pair of games against Peru State (7-5) and Dakota State (8-7, 8 innings).

GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

The Defenders got off to a quick start after two home runs were hit in the first inning. Karli Olsen hit a one-out solo shot into center field to go up 1-0 early. After a Chloe Kreuz double and an Ashtyn Grissom walk, Lauren Steenstra came up to bat and crushed a three-run home run into the left field to give the Defenders a 4-0 lead. The Defenders would add on to their lead in the third inning after Alyssa Villa was hit by a pitch and Kacie Karsak hit a double to right center field to score Villa and Sierra Pirkey singled to drive in Karsak. Pirkey then stole second and advanced to third on a Peyton Whipple ground out. Pirkey would score the seventh run on a Brooke Rule ground out. Peru State would make it interesting in the sixth inning and they would plate across five runs. Casidy Sipek hit a 2 RBI double to score both Danielle Houlden and Kaelyn Hamblen. Autumn Dixon scored on a wild pitch and Casidy Sipek scored after Leann Hawkins tripled  to right center field. Kaylee Harsh drove in Hawkins to bring the game within two runs. Dordt hung on for the win in the bottom of the seventh.

By the numbers:

• Dordt scored seven runs on seven hits and committed one error
• Peru State scored five runs on six hits and didn't commit an error
• Bailey Sample (W, 1-0) pitched 5.2 innings and gave up five runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks
• Hailey Wilken (S, 1) pitched 1.1 innings and one gave up one hit with two strikeouts
• Emberlyn Medsker (L, 0-1) pitched 2.1 innings and gave up four runs on four hits with two strikeouts and four walks
• Jessica Filkin pitched 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with two strikeouts and six walks
• Chloe Kreuz and Kacie Karsak each hit a double 
• Karli Olsen and Lauren Steenstra hit their first home run of the season 
• Lauren Steenstra hit her second home run of her collegiate career 
• Karli Olsen hit her eighth home run of collegiate career

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

Dordt struck first in this game as well after Brooke Rule worked a lead off walk and advanced to second off a wild pitch, Karli Olsen hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Rule to third and Aurora Tyson grounded out to score Rule. That lead didn't last long as Hannah McFarland singled to drive Hannah Feser in from third. The next few innings would go scoreless until the Trojans broke it open, scoring four runs on three hits to take the lead. McFarland would work a bases loaded walk to score Feser again and Ally Morrissey reached first on a throwing error that would bring home both Alexus Foster and Jadynn Alvarado. Rosie Philop hit a single that brought home Morrissey. The Defenders found themselves down 5-1 but they answered right back in the fourth and fifth inning. Peyton Whipple drove in Lauren Steenstra on a single to left field. Lauren Steenstra would single to left center an inning later that scored both Chloe Kreuz and Aurora Tyson. Kacie Karsak gave the Defenders a lead after a 2 RBI single to left field that scored both Lauren Steenstra and Emma Brown. The Defenders held the lead going into the bottom half of the seventh but Delaney Barrett knocked a two out single to right field that brought home the tying run and forced the game into extras. With the international tie-breaker in effect, the Trojans bunted Foster over to third, Delaney Granger reached on a throwing error that scored Foster from third for the go-ahead run. Philop reached on a single and that brought up Quincy Hartley who was brought in as the designated player earlier in the game in place of Mason Usselman. However, Usselman came up to hit and actually drove in two runs on a single to right field. After Coach Jeff Zomer appealed the batting out of order infraction, the runs were wiped off the board and Dakota State only led by one run heading to their half of the inning. Brynn Torrenga was placed at second to begin the inning and Brooke Rule hit a triple into the gap in right center to tie the game up again. Karli Olsen can up with one out and hit a walk-off single to right center. Dordt would win 8-7.

By the numbers:

• Dordt scored eight runs on 11 hits and committed two errors
• Dakota State scored seven runs on 11 hits and didn't commit any errors
• Brooke Rule hit her team leading third triple of the season
• Alexa Kopaska pitched 3.1 innings and gave up five runs on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks
• Jadyn Faber pitched 1.2 innings with and gave up two hits with one strikeout and one walk
• Chloe Kreuz (W, 3-2) was credited with her third win of the season and gave up two runs on three hits

Dordt's record improves to 4-7 and they are on a three game win streak. Dordt will play Waldorf next Friday at 4 pm in the ASB Sports Complex in Sioux Center, Iowa.  Read Full Article