Index of Sports Press Releases

April 21, 2008

Tiger softball team splits with Hastings
The Daily Republic

The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team won its second-straight game in its last at bat Saturday against Hastings College, but the Broncos returned the favor in the second game to split the Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Tigers’ Dana Baxa smacked a game-winning, RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning in the first game to give DWU (11-16, 6-10 GPAC) a 3-2 win, but Hastings (21-18, 11-9 GPAC) rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh in the second game to split the series with a 3-1 victory.

DWU first baseman Lindsey Cooper makes a play on a bunt by Hastings’ Stacey Paladino (2) as the Tigers’ second baseman, Valerie Spencer, hustles over to cover first during Saturday’s doubleheader at Cadwell Park. (Matt Higgins/Republic)

“I thought we played well in both of those games,” said Tigers’ head coach Marie McCarthy. “That’s kind of what we talked about, coming out and playing strong. They’re a good team and we played well against them, although we didn’t hit as well as we would’ve liked.”

In the eighth inning of the first game, Valarie Spencer worked a walk and Annie Martinez followed with a single. Jeannette Mitchell, running for Spencer, and Martinez both moved into scoring position on a ground out by Sarah Wells. Makinna Meeks walked to load the bases, and Baxa came up and ended the game with a single into right field.

Friday night, the Tigers rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to beat Nebraska Wesleyan, 3-2, and the team was able to draw on that recent experience in Saturday’s extra-innings win.

“I think some of that probably carried over into yesterday’s game and gave us a little boost of confidence there,” McCarthy said.

Amy Torgerson earned the win, throwing all eight innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

“I think (Torgerson) threw harder than she did the day before,” McCarthy said. “We were pretty happy with the way she threw.”

Martinez and Meeks were both 2-for-3 in the win, and Meeks, Ekekela Watson and Baxa drove in DWU’s three runs.

The two teams battled through another close game in the second tilt, but this time it was Hastings coming through with clutch hitting late.

The Broncos took a 2-1 lead on Stephanie Baltazor’s RBI triple with one out in the seventh, and she came in to score an insurance run on a fielder’s choice. DWU went down in order in the bottom of the inning and had to settle for the split.

“It wasn’t a very high-hitting game on either side,” McCarthy said. “They ended up getting some shots to fall in there and we didn’t come out and finish it.”

Hastings struck for a run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead, but DWU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Watson walked, moved to second on a sacrifice and came around to score on an RBI single by Martinez.

Spencer was saddled with the loss despite a strong performance on the mound. She allowed just three runs on two hits while striking out seven Broncos. She walked five and hit two batters as she continues to work on her control.

“I think (Spencer) threw better than the day before,” McCarthy said. “One thing she’s really working on staying away from walks. She had a few in that game, but less than she has been having. It allowed us to play a little more defense behind her. She’s starting to build some confidence on the mound.”

Martinez, Meghan Hauck and Torgerson had DWU’s three hits in the loss as Hastings’ starter Chelsey Woodside allowed just five total base runners while striking out five.

“I think (Woodside) is one of the harder throwers that we’ve seen,” McCarthy said. “She kept it high in the zone and sometimes we struggle laying off that.”

The Tigers are back in action today when the host Northwestern College for a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Cadwell Park. The Red Raiders come in with an 18-14 overall record, and currently sit in sixth place in the league with an 8-6 mark. DWU is in 10th place in the GPAC standings.

“We try to talk about coming ready to play every time we step on the field, and bringing focus the entire seven innings,” McCarthy said. “We’ve had a few big innings that have cost us recently, so we want to be focused once we cross that white line.”