The Dordt University softball team turned in strong pitching performances in a pair of one-run losses to No.11 Marian (Ind.) and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) on the fourth day of the Defenders Spring Break trip in Florida.
The Defenders are now 8-15 this season and will play Judson (Ill.) in a doubleheader on Saturday, Marrch 8, at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
Game One: 2-1 loss vs 11th-ranked Marian | Box Score
Chloe Kreuz held the 11th-ranked Knights to two runs over six innings in the Defenders 2-1 loss to Marian. Kreuz (4-8) limited Marian to nine hits, just one extra-base hit, and struck out two in recording her fourth consecutive start allowing two earned runs or fewer. The sophomore also drove in the Defenders lone run with an RBI double in the top of the fourth that scored
Brooklynn Cox.
Leading 1-0 after the Defenders run in the top of the fourth, Marian tied the game in the fifth with three straight hits, all with two outs. An infield single by Anna Pritchett followed by a double by Abby Madere put runners at second and third. Grace Meyer delivered an RBI single to tie the score 1-1 before Kreuz induced a groundout by Lily Wendt to end the inning.
Dordt was retired in order in the sixth and Marian scored the winning run in its half inning on an RBI single by Brenna Fink.
Olivia Stunkel stayed unbeaten in the circle, improving to 5-0 this season, with a complete-game two hitter. She struck out 10 and did not allow a walk. Pritchett led the Knights offense with three hits and Mystic Means had two hits.
Game Two: 1-0 loss vs Olivet Nazarene | Box Score
Olivet Nazarene scored the only run in the top of the seventh inning as the Defenders lost 1-0 in its final game of the day.
Alexa Kopaska (1-4) surrendered a total of five hits, three in the top of the seventh inning. Gwen Bender hit a two-out single to centerfield, advanced to second after a wild pitch, went to third on a single by Allie Timm and scored on an infield single by Shylar Boze.
Dordt totaled three hits, singles from
Brooklynn Cox and
Ashtyn Grissom and double by
Chloe Kreuz.
Timm (4-5) won the pitching dual against Kopaska, striking out four and walking two Defender in seven innings. Timm also led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3.
