The Dordt University softball team earned a split against Wayne State (Neb.) in a mid-week, non-conference doubleheader played tonight at the American State Bank Sports Complex. The Defenders won game one 4-2 and lost the nightcap 7-1.
The Defenders record is now 6-1 this season; Wayne State is 5-1.
Game One: 4-2 Defenders Win
Lauren Steenstra went 2-for-3 with four RBI in leading the Defenders to a 4-2 win in game one.
The senior from Wyoming, Mich. gave the Defenders an early 2-1 lead with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the third inning that scored both
Rylee Yager and
Chloe Kreuz. After Wayne State tied the score with a run in the top of the fifth inning, Steenstra delivered again with a 2-run double in the home half of the fith to put Dordt in front for good.
Three Defender pitchers combined for a nine-hitter as Tera Lynn Price (1-0) earned her first collegiate win and
Rylee Yager picked up her first collegiate save. Price allowed three hits and one run in three innings while Yager pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh frames. Yager fanned Wildcats shortstop Lillie Timm with the bases loaded for the final out.
Abigail Tweedy made her first career start for the Defenders in the circle and allowed three hits and one earned run in two innings.
Dordt totaled five hits, two each by Steenstra and Kreuz, who combined for three doubles. Yager had the other hit for the Defenders and scored two runs.
Taylor Coleman (1-1) took the loss, giving up five hits and four runs in the first 4.2 innings. Coleman struck out nine and gave way to Jadeyn Stahr for the final 1.1 innings. Kennadi Borngrebe paced the Wildcats at the plate with two hits.
Game Two: 7-2 Defenders loss
The Defenders were held to a season-low four hits in their 7-2 loss in game two. Four Dordt players had one hit each, led by
Taylor Schneider with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the third inning.
Chloe Kreuz added an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and both
Sumaya Edwards and
Peyton Whipple singled as well.
Bailey Johnson (0-1) pitched the first three innings where she allowed five hits and three earned runs.
Emerson Van Meter held the Wildcats to two hits in three innings of relief and Kreuz came in to pitch the seventh.
Wayne State pushed across three runs in the top of the third inning to break the scoreless tie. Maddie Scobee delivered a one-out, three-run double to score Emilee Marth, Jordyn Klein and Leah Chance.
Dordt came back with Schroeder's solo home run in the bottom of the third and the score remained 3-1 until the top of the sixth when Kennadi Borngrebe drove in Marth with an RBI single. Wayne State added three more runs in the seventh on a three-run, home run by Marth, her first of the year.
Borngrebe (3-0), the reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Week, picked up her third win of the season, giving up one hit in six innings. She struck out eight and gave way to Stahr for the final inning.
