Softball 2/22/2024 10:30:00 PM by the Dordt University Athletic Communications Office

Softball Weekend Preview - Feb.23 - 24

GAME TIME:

The Dordt University softball team will host its fourth and final weekend classic (Feb.23-24) at the American State Bank Sports Complex. Eight teams are scheduled to compete in a total of 16 games over the two-day event.
The Defenders will play a pair of games each day, beginning with a Friday afternoon contest against Waldorf at 4pm. They will then play Dakota State at 6pm, a rematch of a game played in last weekend's classic. Saturday features games against Dickinson State (N.D.) at noon and against Mayville State (N.D.) at 4pm.
Follow the games live at the following links:
- Watch (via the Dordt Defender Network)
- Live Stats |
- Program |

ALL-TIME VS THE OPPONENTS:

Dordt is 8-8 vs Waldorf
- last time: 8-2 win in 2023
Dordt is 39-8 vs Dakota State
- last time: 8-7 (8 innings) win last week
Dordt is 5-3 vs Dickinson State
- last time: 2-1 loss in 2022
Dordt is 9-4 vs Mayville State
- last time: 8-0 win in 2023

GPAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL:

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) released its annual softball preseason coaches' poll earlier today and Dordt was picked to finish fifth by league coaches. The Defenders totaled 81 points, trailing Jamestown by four and are 17 points in front of No.6 Hastings.
Midland is the GPAC preseason favorite, while Northwestern and Morningside are picked second and third, respectively.

IN THE RANKINGS:

Two teams from the GPAC, Midland and Northwestern, open the season ranked in the NAIA preseason poll. Midland, the GPAC postseason champion in 2023, is ranked 10th while Northwestern, the GPAC regular season champion, begins the season ranked 15th.

LONGEST TENURED COACH:

Head Coach Jeff Zomer begins his 15th season in charge of the Defenders softball program. Zomer, who took over the program in 2010, is the seventh head coach within the program and the longest tenured coach in program history. He holds a 276-299-1 record (49%) and has guided Dordt to the GPAC postseason tournament in all but two seasons.

ABOUT THE DEFENDERS:

2024 Record:
- 4-7
  - most recent: 3-1 last weekend at the ASB Dome
By the Numbers (2024):
- 4.4 runs / game; 6.8 hits / game
- .262 batting average
- 22 extra-base hits
- 4 home runs
- 16/18 stolen bases
- 4.54 ERA
- 5.5 runs / game given up, 9 hits given up / game
- .330 batting average against
2024 Leaders:
- Offense:
  - Ashtyn Grissom - .409 BA, 4 runs, HR, 7 RBIs
  - Aurora Tyson - .375 BA, 6 runs, 10 RBIs, 3-game hit streak
  - Karli Olsen - .367 BA, 6 runs, 9 RBIs, 4- game hit streak
- Pitching:
  - Chloe Kreuz: 3-2, 4.20 ERA, 20 IP, 6 K's
  - Alexa Kopaska: 0-5, 5.06 ERA 27.2 IP, 11 K's

SCOUTING REPORTS:

Waldorf Warriors:
- 2024 Record: 0-1
  - lost to Clarke (Iowa) 4-1 in Austin, Minn.
- Head Coach: Justin Uhlenhopp (4th year w/ program)
  - started as ass't coach in 2021
  - also serves as the head coach for Forest City H.S.
- Conference: North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)
  - final year in NSAA; will join the GPAC next year
- 2023 Record / Finish: 6-15 (7th of 8 teams), 13-30 overall
  - 0-2 in postseason tournament
- return 4 starters, 14 players
  - Brooke Hickey (all-conference)
- About the North Star Athletic Conference:
  - 7 teams
    - Bellevue is preseason favorite and received votes in NAIA preseason poll
    - Warriors are picked to finish seventh
- Key Players:
  - Gabby Bierly - .333 BA
  - Brooke Hickey - .333 BA, HR
  - Maddie Dalke - 0-1, 3.00 ERA, 7 IP, 4 K's
Dakota State Trojans:
- 2024 Record: 0-4
  - lost all four games last weekend at Dome
    - all to GPAC teams (NWC, DWU, BCU and Dordt)
- Head Coach: Erin Skinner (1st year)
  - served as the head coach at Presentation College one year
  - named NSAA Coach of the Year in 2023
  - served as assistant coach at both Lyon (Ark.) and Doane (Neb.)
- Conference: North Star Athletic Conference (NSAA)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 12-15 (4th), 15-34 overall
  - went 2-2 in conference tournament, lost to Dickinson State to end season
- About the North Star Athletic Conference:
  - 7 teams
    - Bellevue is preseason favorite and received votes in NAIA preseason poll
    - Dakota State is picked to finish fourth
- 2024 By the Numbers:
  - 2.8 runs, 6.8 hits / game
  - .252 batting average
  - 3 extra-base hits
  - 6/6 stolen bases
  - 5.58 ERA
  - 7.5 runs, 9.8 hits given up / game
  - .339 batting average against
- Leaders:
  - Jordyn Jeffries - .500 BA, 2B, 1-1 SB
  - Alexus Foster - .364 BA, 3 runs, 2B
  - Ally Morrissey - .308 BA, run, 2 RBIs
  - Delaney Barrett - 0-1, 3.62 ERA, 9.2 IP
Dickinson State Blue Hawks:
- 2024 Record: 1-3
  - played four games on Feb.9-10 in Jamestown, N.D.
    - lost first three, def. Mayville State in final game, 12-4
- Head Coach: Kristin Fleury (13th year)
  - served as an assistant coach at Dickinson State for two years prior to being named head coach
  - played two years for the Blue Hawks
  - 391-220 overall record
  - just one losing season; 8 30-win seasons
  - 7x NAIA Opening Round Qualifier, 1 World Series appearance
- Conference: North Star Athletic Conference (NSAA)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 17-9 (3rd), 25-25 overall
  - went 3-2 in conference tournament, lost to Bellevue to end season
- About the North Star Athletic Conference:
  - 7 teams
    - Bellevue is preseason favorite and received votes in NAIA preseason poll
    - Dickinson State is picked to finish third
- 2024 By the Numbers:
  - 3 runs, 6 hits / game
  - .270 batting average
  - 3 extra-base hits
  - 8/9 stolen bases
  - 6.27 ERA
  - 6.5 runs, 10.3 hits given up / game
  - .387 batting average against
- Leaders:
  - Dallas Mitchell (all-conf) - .364 BA, 2 runs, 2 RBIs
  - Cassy Loa - .333 BA, 3 RBIs
  - Bailey Hansen - .300 BA, run, 3 RBIs
  - Alexa Kappel - 0-1, 4.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 3 K's
Mayville State Comets:
- 2024 Record: 0-8
  - lost all four games last weekend in Kansas City
    - lost to Benedictine, Midland, Park and MidAmerica Nazarene
- Head Coach: Jordan Olson (1st year)
  - named head coach in July of 2023
  - served as the head coach at Doane for three years
  - served as assistant coach at Doane for three years prior
- Conference: North Star Athletic Conference (NSAA)
- 2023 Record / Finish: 6-22 (8th), 7-31 overall
  - went 0-2 in conference tournament
- About the North Star Athletic Conference:
  - 7 teams
    - Bellevue is preseason favorite and received votes in NAIA preseason poll
    - Mayville State is picked to finish sixth
- 2024 By the Numbers:
  - 1.5 runs, 5.1 hits / game
  - .209 batting average
  - 12 extra-base hits, 1 HR
  - 5/5 stolen bases
  - 4.87 ERA
  - 7 runs, 10.9 hits given up / game
  - .370 batting average against
- Leaders:
  - Samantha Shumway (all-conf) - .458 BA, 4 2B, 2-2 SB
  - Megan Elliott - .400 BA, HR, 4 RBIs
  - Lindsey Tulla - .273 BA, 5 RBIs
  - Emily Hanies (transfer from Doane) 0-4, 3.30 ERA, 23.1 IP, 7 K's

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Players Mentioned

#11 Karli Olsen: C; Junior

#44 Aurora Tyson: U/OF; Sophomore

#18 Alexa Kopaska: P/OF; Freshman

#2 Chloe Kreuz: P / U; Freshman

#23 Ashtyn Grissom: INF; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Karli Olsen
: Junior
: C

#44 Aurora Tyson
: Sophomore
: U/OF

#18 Alexa Kopaska
: Freshman
: P/OF

#2 Chloe Kreuz
: Freshman
: P / U

#23 Ashtyn Grissom
: Freshman
: INF