The Dordt Defenders dropped a pair of games (1-0, 12-6) on Saturday against the No. 9 ranked Doane Tigers in Crete, Neb.
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
A true pitchers dual took place during the first game as only one run would come across and there were a combined five hits. The only run of the game came in the bottom of the first. Tiger designated hitter, Noah Winkelman, drew a two-out walk and Nate Mensik hit an RBI double to left center field that scored Winkelman. Dordt had few opportunities as they were held to just three hits. One of those hits came off a
Jason Carrig double down the left field line and advanced to third on a
Dylan Stanley ground out but was left on base.
Nate Eliason was able to get on base by laying down a bunt but was also left on base after
Logan Harris grounded out. Carrig had his second hit of the game in the fourth inning after a single up the middle but
Dylan Stanley grounded into a double play to erase the lead-off single.Â
Jared Hughes did his part by pitching 6.0 innings and giving up two hits and only one run with eight strike outs and only one walk.Â
The numbers:
- Dordt didn't score any runs on three hits and committed one error
- Doane scored one run on two hits and didn't commit any errors
- Jason Carrig had two hits (2B, 1B) and Nate Eliason had a bunt single
- Jared Hughes (L, 1-5) pitched 6.0 innings and gave up one run, two hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts
- Hughes reached his season high in innings pitched and strikeouts
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
The bats were hot in the second game as 18 total runs were scored. Doane struck first off a Narumi Okayasu single up the middle in the second inning to score Aaron Vulcano and Carson Baker. Dordt cut the lead in half when
Dylan Stanley doubled down the right field line to bring in
Logan Harris. Doane added to their lead in the bottom half of the fourth as they would plate across four runs. Okayasu hit a triple that scored Vulcano and Dane Kelsey. Winkelman drove in Okayasu and Justin Nevells reached on a throwing error that scored Winkelman and Joe Osborn singled in the fifth that brought Kelsey home.
Dordt scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning that began with Dylan Stanely reaching on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error that allowed
Josh Tiersma to score Dordt's second run.
Drew Oreskes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Stanley.
Jason Carrig was brought home in the same inning on a
Nolan Christianson ground out.
Morgan Wilkins stepped in and hit an RBI single to left field that scored
Drew Oreskes and
Logan De Vries. Doane answered right back as Nevells hit a double to bring around Mensik and make the score 6-8.Â
In the seventh inning, Mensik singled through the left side and advanced to second as the throw from the outfield got away that allowed Okayasu and Osborn to score. Winkelman came in to score on a wild pitch and Mensik was driven in on a single hit by Nevells. Doane would win, 12-6.
The numbers:
- Dordt scored six runs on nine hits and committed one error
- Doane scored 12 runs on 16 hits and committed five errors
- Dylan Stanley had two hits (2B, 1B) and an RBI
- Stanley had the only extra-base hit for the Defenders
- Morgan Wilkins had two singles, two RBIs, and caught one runner stealing
- Kayden Dean had two stolen bases
- Justin Bryson (L, 0-4) pitched 3.0 innings and gave up four runs, six hits, three walks, and had three strikeouts.
Dordt's record falls to 7-28 overall and 1-13 in GPAC play. Their next games will be in Sioux Center on April 9 against Dakota Wesleyan.
