The Dordt Defender softball team swept a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan on Thursday, April 23, in Sioux Center, winning 6-1 in the opener and 11-3 in game two. With the sweep, Dordt has won six games in a row and is now tied with Dakota Wesleyan for third place in the conference, both holding 16-4 records. Dordt is 35-10 overall this season and tied a single season Dordt record for wins in a season.
Dordt is scheduled to conclude the season Saturday at 1pm in Sioux Cty against Briar Cliff.
Game 1: Dordt 6, Dakota Wesleyan 1
Game 1 Box Score (PDF)
Dordt fell behind early as Dakota Wesleyan used an Alessandra Ciurca RBI triple in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Defenders remained quiet until the fourth, when they capitalized on a throwing error that allowed
Sumaya Edwards to score and put Dordt ahead 2-1. Edwards scored after a squeeze bunt pushed across a run and she came all the way around after
Annabelle Hensley was tagged out trying to score a second run on the play and the catcher's throw to centerfield to stop Edwards from advancing went all the way to the centerfield fence.
The Defenders broke the game open in the fifth inning with a four-run outburst.
Chloe Kreuz sparked the rally with an RBI single, followed by a
Rylee Yager RBI single.
Lauren Steenstra capped the scoring with a two-run double to center.
Rylee Yager earned her 16th win of the season in the circle, throwing a complete game and striking out 13 batters while surrendering only one run on four hits. Yager worked out of a bases loaded, no outs situation in the first to set the tone.
Chloe Kreuz established a new Dordt single-season hits record with her single in the first inning, pushing her total to 74 at the time.
Game 1 Notes
- Dordt outhit Dakota Wesleyan 9-4.
- Rylee Yager recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts in the victory.
- The Defenders successfully stole five bases during the contest.
Dordt Leaders – Game 1
- Hits: Chloe Kreuz (2), Rylee Yager (2), Taylor Schneider (2).
- RBI: Lauren Steenstra (2), Chloe Kreuz (1), Rylee Yager (1).
- Stolen Bases: Rylee Yager (2), Chloe Kreuz (1), Annabelle Hensley (1), Molly Zylstra (1).
- Pitching: Rylee Yager (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 13 K).
Game 2: Dordt 11, Dakota Wesleyan 3
Game 2 Box Score (PDF)
Dordt secured the sweep with a power outburst in game two, finishing the game in six innings. After falling behind 1-0 in the second,
Chloe Kreuz put the Defenders on the board in the third with a two-run home run.
Sumaya Edwards extended the lead to 4-1 later in the frame with a two-run triple.
Dakota Wesleyan narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the fourth, but Dordt responded immediately. Kreuz added a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, and
Annabelle Hensley launched a solo home run in the fifth. The Defenders ended the game in the sixth inning behind a second two-run home run from Kreuz and a sacrifice fly by Edwards.
Chloe Kreuz earned the win, pitching four innings and contributing six RBIs at the plate.
Game 2 Notes
- Dordt's offense tallied 14 hits, including three home runs.
- Chloe Kreuz finished the game with two home runs and six RBIs.
- The Defender defense turned a double play in the third inning to stifle a DWU threat.
Dordt Leaders – Game 2
- Hits: Chloe Kreuz (3), Rylee Yager (2), Ashtyn Grissom (2), Annabelle Hensley (2).
- RBI: Chloe Kreuz (6), Sumaya Edwards (3), Annabelle Hensley (1).
- Home Runs: Chloe Kreuz (2), Annabelle Hensley (1).
- Stolen Bases: Rylee Yager (1), Addison Stephenson-Roy (1), Molly Zylstra (1).
- Pitching: Chloe Kreuz (W, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K); Abigail Tweedy (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K).
