MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball dropped a pair of games versus conference foe (RV) Midland University, who sits atop the conference standings on Thursday from Dr. McWhirter Field in Mitchell, S.D.
Dakota Wesleyan attempted a late rally in the first game, but ultimately fell short 11-5 and was held scoreless in the second game by a score of 5-0.
Midland raced out to an early 2-0 lead in top half of the first inning after a pair of singles and a double. Monique Gomez (Santa Maria, Calif.) recorded a trio of routine flyouts to help DWU and starting pitcher Meghan Daffern (Tehachapi, Calif.) escape the first-inning jam.
After being held in check during the bottom of the first frame, the Tiger (9-25, 1-17 GPAC) offense took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Daffern notched the second homerun of her career with two outs in the inning after Allison McElveny (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Haley Linke (Mitchell, S.D.) reached successfully, which granted Dakota Wesleyan the 3-2 lead.
Unphased, the Warriors (30-7, 18-2 GPAC) reclaimed the lead with five runs in the fourth inning followed by three runs in the fifth inning and controlled a 10-3 lead as the game reached the sixth inning.
MID tacked on its final run of the game with a homer in the top of the sixth inning before DWU attempted a late rally. Faced with the eight-run deficit, Alyssa Garcia (La Verne, Calif.) tallied a two-out double to left field which scored Adriana Thomason (Las Vegas, Nev.). McElveny, who registered two runs scored, and Stephanie Gabel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) continued the momentum with back-to-back doubles as the Tigers narrowed the margin to 11-6 with three runs on three hits in the inning.
Despite a two-out single by Reagan Nebel (Hayti, S.D.) in the seventh frame, the Blue and Gray were unable to piece together a comeback and Midland held on for the five-run victory. Dakota Wesleyan secured five hits in game one as Daffern paced the Tigers with three RBIs.
The Warriors continued their momentum to begin game two of the doubleheader thanks to a pair of runs on three hits in the opening inning. Linke recorded the final out of the inning as she executed an unassisted groundout to help Dakota Wesleyan escape the early jam, though MID held the 2-0 lead.
The Dakota Wesleyan bats were held in check over the first three innings regardless of a pair of singles by Gabel and Daffern. Unable to produce any momentum at the plate, DWU used a 5-4-3 double play in the top of the third frame to stay within striking distance. However, Midland managed to plate a run in the third inning and claimed a 3-0 lead midway through game two.
A double in the fourth frame followed by a solo homerun in the fifth inning granted MID a 5-0 lead as the game reached the final inning of action. McElveny led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to left field, however, the Warriors curtailed any chance for a rally by Dakota Wesleyan and recorded the Tigers out in order for the 5-0 win.
DWU remains at home with a matchup versus conference foe College of Saint Mary at 1 p.m. on Saturday as Dakota Wesleyan celebrates senior day from McWhirter Field in Mitchell, S.D.