The Dordt Defenders used a comeback in game two of their doubleheader with Dakota Wesleyan to earn a split in a GPAC softball date played at the American State Bank Sports Complex on Wednesday, April 2. Dordt lost game one 3-1 but won game two 16-11.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
GAME 1
The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers used timely hitting to get a 3-0 lead in game one and held off the Dordt threats. Wesleyan scored on a solo homerun in the first inning and followed with a pair of runs on three hits in the third inning.
Dordt threatened in the first inning and had runners on first and third with one out but stranded
Brooke Rule and
Chloe Kreuz. Dordt played as the visitor in Sioux Center as the game was originally scheduled to be played in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Chloe Kreuz led off the fourth with a homerun but stranded two runners in the fifth and one in the sixth as the Tigers held on to win 3-1.
THE NUMBERS
Dordt 1r | 4h | 1e | 6lob
Dakota Wesleyan 3r | 6h | 0e | 4lob
Dordt Leaders
Chloe Kreuz | 2-3 | 1r | hr | 6ip | 3er | 5k | 2bb
Abbey Hitchcock | 1-3
GAME 2
The Defenders overcame an 11-6 deficit and scored 10 unanswered over the final three innings for a 16-11 win.
The Tigers scored a run in the first and three in the second for a 4-2 lead after Dordt got two across on a
Brynn Torrenga single that ended up producing two runs with the help of a Wesleyan error. Dordt led briefly with three runs on four hits in the top of the third as Kreuz knocked in a run and a
Kacie Karsak single added two runs for a 5-4 advantage.
In a game where the offenses had the upper hand much of the time, Wesleyan got two in the bottom of the third for a 6-5 lead and Dordt tied it with Torrenga laying down a bunt that was misplayed into an error and got
Lauren Steenstra in after she had doubled to start the inning. The tie was short lived with Wesleyan getting five runs on four hits with two errors factoring in during the fourth inning. Needing offense to keep up, the Defenders got six in the top of the fifth and never trailed again. A ground out started the inning and a strikeout got Wesleyan an out away from retiring the side.
Ashtyn Grissom homered and Karsak followed with another homerun. After a pitching change
Lauren Steenstra singled and Torrenga tripled to make it 11-9. A walk followed by a
Brooke Rule single added another run and
Brooklynn Cox reached on an error for a pair of unearned runs and a 12-11 lead.
Wesleyan had runners at first and second with one out and Kreuz came on in relief. A line drive out led to a double play to end the inning and
Annabelle Hensley doubled to lead off the sixth and an error put runners at first and third. After a stolen base Torrenga delivered a double to plate two. Wesleyan left two on in the sixth and Dordt got two runs for insurance in the top of the seventh with a walk and a Hensley homerun. Kreuz retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. It was the only frame in the second game where Wesleyan was retired in order.
Dordt is now 5-3 in the GPAC and 16-19 overall. Dakota Wesleyan is 9-3 in the GPAC and 28-9 overall. Dordt is scheduled to face Midland on Saturday, April 5 in doubleheader play in Sioux Center.
THE NUMBERS
Dordt | 16r | 16h | 3e | 5lob
Dakota Wesleyan | 11r | 13h | 6e | 6lob
Dordt Leaders
Brynn Torrenga | 3-3 | 4rbi
Annabelle Hensley | 4-5 | 2rbi | 2r
Kacie Karsak | 2-5 | 3rbi
Lauren Steenstra | 2-3 | 3r
Alexa Kopaska | win | 1 2/3 ip | 4h | 1 k
Chloe Kreuz | save | 2 2/3 ip | 2h | 3k | 0r
