DWU Athletic Department

DWU softball starts Arizona trip with big win

Roni Nekrassoff	Kelsey Timmons
Brandi Nekrassoff	Tiffany Bonifacio

TUSCON, Ariz. – The Dakota Wesleyan University softball team headed south for spring break in search of good weather, but instead of beaches the Tigers are on a mission to kickstart their 2010 season with some quality wins. DWU opened its run at the Tuscon (Ariz.) Spring Break Invitational with a big win over a conference rival before dropping a pair on Monday.

The Tigers (3-4) started the tournament on a high note when they beat Great Plains Athletic Conference rival Nebraska Wesleyan University 5-2 Sunday afternoon behind a good pitching performance from Roni Nekrassoff. Offensively, several DWU players had big days at the plate.

Nekrassoff struck out eight Prairie Wolves’ hitters with no walks while allowing just two runs, both unearned, on seven hits. Kelsey Timmons and Brandi Nekrassoff led the way with the bats, as Timmons drove in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly and Brandi Nekrassoff was 3-for-3 in the win. Tiffany Bonifacio had a big game as well, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Additionally, Nicole Haley was 2-for-5 with a triple and a run scored, Lauren Lynds was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs and Roni Nekrassoff helped herself out with a singe and an RBI on a squeeze play.

The Tigers had a tougher time scoring runs Monday as it lost its first game to Missouri Valley College 8-0, and dropped another contest by the exact same score to Dickinson State University later in the afternoon.

In the first game, Timmons got the nod and went two-plus innings, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout. Brandi Nekrassoff came on in relief and finished the game, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks with two strikeouts.

Roni Nekrassoff went the distance in the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Brandi Nekrassoff went 1-for-2 to lead the Tiger offense.

DWU will try to get back in the win column Tuesday with two more games in Tuscon. The Tigers take on Nebraska Wesleyan again at 11 a.m. and they’ll play Patten University at 1:30 p.m. Both start times are Pacific Standard Time.