The Dordt Defender softball team split a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader with Morningside on Wednesday, April 8, in Sioux Center, dropping the opener 3-2 in eight innings before bouncing back for a 7-2 victory in the nightcap.
 
Game 1: Morningside 3, Dordt 2 (8 Innings)
Box Score (PDF)
 
Morningside took advantage of an extra-inning opportunity to edge out the Defenders in a defensive battle. After five scoreless innings, Dordt broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Chloe Kreuz and Rylee Yager both singled and stole a base to put runners in scoring position, setting the stage for Lauren Steenstra, who delivered a two-RBI single to give Dordt a 2-0 lead.
 
Morningside responded in the sixth when Adeline Fliege hit a two-out, two-run double to tie the game at 2-2. The score remained deadlocked until the top of the eighth, when Amber Dougherty reached on an error and later scored on an RBI single by Mackenzi Harrel to give Morningside a 3-2 lead. Dordt threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases after a Lauren
Steenstra single and walks to Aubrey DeShaw and Peyton Whipple, but they were unable to drive in the equalizer.
 
Team Stats

• Dordt outhit Morningside 9-5
• Dordt drew 3 walks; Morningside drew 0
• Dordt left 10 runners on base; Morningside left 4

Dordt Leaders

• Lauren Steenstra: 3-4, 2 RBI
• Rylee Yager: 2-4, 1 run scored, 3 stolen bases
• Chloe Kreuz: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
• Pitching: Rylee Yager pitched a complete 8.0 innings, striking out 10 and allowing 2 earned runs.

 
Game 2: Dordt 7, Morningside 2
Box Score (PDF)
 
Dordt's offense found its rhythm in the nightcap, racking up 13 hits to secure the split. Morningside jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run by Mackenzi Harrel. Dordt began their comeback in the bottom of the first when Sumaya Edwards hit an RBI single to score Chloe Kreuz. The Defenders tied the game in the third inning as Lauren Steenstra drove in Rylee Yager with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Defenders took control with a three-run fifth inning. Sumaya Edwards doubled to score Rylee Yager for the lead, followed by an RBI single from Ashtyn Grissom and an RBI single from Aubrey DeShaw to extend the cushion to 5-2. Dordt added two insurance runs in the sixth inning when Sumaya Edwards and Ashtyn Grissom each recorded their second RBI singles of the game to provide the final 7-2 margin.
 
Team Stats

• Dordt outhit Morningside 13-4
• Dordt drew 1 walk; Morningside drew 2
• Dordt left 10 runners on base; Morningside left 6

Dordt Leaders

• Sumaya Edwards: 3-4, 3 RBI, double
• Ashtyn Grissom: 2-4, 2 RBI
• Rylee Yager: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases
• Aubrey DeShaw: 2-4, RBI, 1 stolen base
• Pitching: Abigail Tweedy earned the win, pitching a complete 7.0 innings with 6 strikeouts and 2 runs allowed.

Dordt moves to 29-8 overall and 10-2 in GPAC play following the split
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