Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt Defender softball team was a 6-5 winner in extra innings Friday afternoon in Sioux Center in game one of their doubleheader.
Dordt allowed two runs in the first inning but came right back with a score on a Rachel Evavold single that scored Hannah Sikkema. Dordt trailed 3-1 after another Hastings run in the second but Chandler Schemper scored for Dordt in the bottom of the second on a Becky Pedersen double.
Dordt tied it in the fourth on Kenzie Cunard’s single that scored Emma Veenstra and Dordt took the lead on a Brooklyn Van Oort single in the fifth that got Rachel Evavold in from second after she reached on a one-out double.
Hastings tied it at 4-4 in the sixth on a pair of hits and Dordt answered with a go ahead run in the home half of the sixth when Hailey Heeringa reached on a single and Jessica Flaherty ran for her. After Flaherty stole second she advanced on a ground out and scored on a Jessica Oules single.
Hastings managed a two-out single in the seventh to make it 5-5 and the game went to extra innings after Dordt was retired in order.
Both teams had a base runner stranded in the eighth and Dordt left Rachel Evavold stranded at second in the ninth after a one-out double.
Still tied 5-5 in the tenth the teams went to the international tie-breaker with a runner placed at second to start the frame. Dordt worked around the situation in the top of the inning and Emma Veenstra delivered a single to end the game with Chandler Schemper at third and one out.
Dordt had a 14-11 hits advantage and never scored more than a run in an inning.
Rachel Evavold was 4-5 at the plate with two doubles and a run batted in.
Hannah Sikkema was 2-5 and Jessica Oules was also 2-5.
Abby Kraemer went the distance and allowed five runs with 11 hits and walked four with 12 strikeouts.
Dordt and Hastings took the field in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, where exciting defensive plays and strong pitching performances highlighted the evening.
Hastings struck first in the top of the 2nd, started by a two-out rally in which runners were walked onto first and second, followed by back-to-back singles that scored two runs for the Broncos.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the 2nd, Dordt answered with Chandler Schemper’s single to right field that allowed Emma Veenstra to score from first.
The next run came in the 3rd inning, and it was Dordt’s Jessica Oules who scored off of baserunning plays that allowed her to advance from first and score on a wild throw in the next at-bat.
With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the 5th, Hastings opened with a single from Alyssa Carter, who was advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Carter and Mattie Hogrefe later scored on a double from Taylor Stuhr.
The Defenders had a hit and runners on in the bottom of the 7th, but opportunistic defense for Hastings helped the Broncos come away with the 4-2 win.
Jessica Oules was 2-4 with 1 run scored
Chandler Schemper went 2-2 and had 1 RBI
Rachel Evavold pitched a complete game, striking out 6 batters
Dordt will host Doane in tomorrow’s 11:00 am and 1:00 pm games at Open Space Park
