The Dordt Defenders battled with the Morningside Mustangs this evening in the ASB Sports Complex. Dordt and Morningside came into this series tied for third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) at  9-5 in GPAC play. Dordt dropped the first game (5-1) but won game two (2-1) in an extra-innings thriller.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED
Morningside got on the board first after working back-to-back two-out walks in the top half of the first. Kennedee Jones knocked a single into right field that scored Paige Schuster. Later in the third inning, Mackenzi Harrel drew a two-out walk and Kennedee Jones crushed a two-run home run over the right field fence. Dordt trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth before Chloe Kreuz launched the first home run of her career to make the score 3-1. That's the only run the Defenders would score as Morningside's Mackenna Sidzyik knocked in Ellie Gengler and Allie Fletcher with a double to center field.
By the numbers:
- Dordt scored one run on three hits and didn't commit any errors
- Morningside scored five runs on 10 hits and didn't commit any errors
- Chloe Kreuz hit her first home run of her career and the only extra base hit of the game for the Defenders
- Mackenna Sidzyik, Kennedee Jones, and Bralen Biddlecome each had a double
- Kennedee Jones hit her fifth home run of the season, 10 in her career
- Chloe Kreuz (L, 11-8) pitched 7.0 innings and gave up 10 hits, five runs, three walks, and had two strikeouts
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED
Once again, Morningside got in the score column first after Kennedee Jones hit her second home run of the day in the top of the second. Dordt came right back in the bottom half of the second after
Lauren Steenstra doubled to right field and was later driven in on an
Alyssa Villa single to center field. Some good pitching and great defense held both teams from scoring. No play bigger than
Emma Groen throwing out Mackenzi Harrel at home in the sixth inning. Harrell reached first on a error and Morgan Secora hit a two-out double to center field.
Aurora Tyson got to it first in deep center field and hit
Emma Groen. Harrel rounded third and Groen fired it home to
Karli Olsen to cut down the go-ahead run and keep it a tie game. The game would go into extra innings and Morningside would go down in order.
Chloe Kreuz reached safely on a fielder's choice and advanced to third after
Alyssa Villa reached safely on an error.
Brynn Torrenga stepped in with two-outs and the winning run on third. Torrenga hit an RBI single up the middle to score Kreuz and win in walk-off fashion.Â
By the numbers:
- Dordt scored two runs on six hits and committed one error
- Morningside scored one run on five hits and committed two errors
- Karlie Olsen and Lauren Steenstra each had a double
- Alyssa Villa and Brynn Torrenga each had an RBI
- Bailey Sample pitched 6.2 innings and gave up five hits, one run, two walks, and had four strikeout
- Jadyn Faber (W, 7-1) pitched 1.1 innings and didn't give up any hits, runs, or walks, and had one strikeout.
Dordt's record is now 23-20 overall and 10-6 in GPAC play. They will take the field next against College of Saint Mary on April 20 in the ASB Sports Complex.
