The Dordt University softball team opened its Spring Break with a pair of losses to Warner (Fla.) in a doubleheader played in Lake Wales, Fla. The Defenders lost game one 4-3 and followed with an 8-5 setback in game two.
Dordt is now 8-9 this season while the Royals improve to 4-8.
Game One: 4-3 loss (
Box Score)
- How It Happened:
- Dordt scored an unearned run in the top of the first on a ball hit by Chloe Kreuz that scored Brooke Rule
- Warner responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning on a ball hit by Diana Martin
- an RBI single by Annabelle Hensley gave the Defenders a 2-1 lead in the top of the third
- Dordt extended its lead to 3-1 after an RBI triple from Brooklynn Cox
- the host Royals came back to tie the game at 3-3 after a two-run, two-out single by Jillian Hudson
- still tied 3-3, Warner scored the winning run after Defenders error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh
- By the Numbers:
- Dordt outhit Warner 6-5
- Brooklynn Cox was on base four times to lead the Defenders at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks
- Brooke Rule, Annabelle Hensley, Lauren Steenstra and Peyton Whipple all had one hit each
- Chloe Kreuz (4-5) took the loss, giving up two earned runs with six walks and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings
- Keirsten Garmen (3-3) earned the win and gave up six hits and three runs in the full seven innings
- Jillian Hudson drove in two runs and was one of five Warner players with one hit
- Dordt committed four errors compared to two by Warner
Game Two: 8-5 loss (
Box Score)
- How it Happened:
- an RBI single from Kreuz scored Rule to give Dordt a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning
- Warner rallied with four runs in the fourth inning on a pair of 2-run singles by Samantha Berube and Remy Camp
- Dordt went back in front with a four-run, fifth inning
- Kreuz and Hensley delivered RBI singles and Ashtyn Grissom hit a two-run triple later that scored both Kreuz and Hensley
- Warner took the lead for good with a four-run bottom of the sixth
- a bases loaded walk to Sehelly Mercardo tied it at 5-5
- Grace Derstine came through with a three-run triple, scoring Mercado, Hudson and Camp
- By the Numbers:
- both teams tallied seven hits
- Dordt did not committ an error; Warner totaled two
- Kreuz and Hensley had two hits each and Grissom had one hit and totaled two RBIs
- Bailey Sample (3-3) allowed seven hits and walked seven in 5.2 innings
- Avery Garbarek (2-4) went the distance and earned the win for the Royals; allowed seven hits and five runs while striking out six
