Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt Defenders hosted Briar Cliff in GPAC softball Monday. The two teams were in late season forms with a pair of well played close contests that went to the Defenders.
GAME ONE SCORE
Dordt def. Briar Cliff 1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dordt Defender softball team earned a 1-0 win over Briar Cliff on Monday afternoon, April 4 in game one of their GPAC doubleheader. Offense was limited with the two teams combining for just five hits.
Dordt got the only run of the game in the third when Jessica Oules scored from second on a Kenzie Cundard double with two outs in the inning.
Briar Cliff’s best chance to score came in the fifth inning when they had runners at first and third with two outs by a fly ball ended the inning.
THE NUMBERS
Abby Kraemer went the distance for her ninth pitching win and allowed three this with four walks and struck out 11.
Cunard and Chandler Schemper had Dordt’s hits and Jessica Flaherty and Ella Koster each had a walk.
Dordt was outhit 3-2.
GAME TWO SCORE
Dordt def. Briar Cliff 3-2
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dordt broke a 2-2 tie with a walk off win in the bottom of the seventh inning for its fourth GPAC win of the season in taking a 3-2 win from Briar Cliff on Monday night in Sioux Center.
Dordt scored in the first inning when Brooklyn Van Oort singled in Karli Olsen wint two outs. Olsen had reached with a one out single to start the threat.
The Defenders added a run in the third when she bounced one back to the pitcher but the throw to first was offline and Cunard scored on the play.
Briar Cliff was able to finally break through and tied the game with a two-out double off of Dordt reliever Abby Kraemer. The Defenders went quietly in the sixth inning and Briar Cliff did the same as the Chargers were retired on three pitches.
In the bottom of the seventh Jessica Oules doubled to left on a shallow fly ball and Cunard delivered a double to the left-center gap to finish the game.
THE NUMBERS
Both teams had six hits. Briar Cliff was charged with two errors and Dordt one.
Kenzie Cunard had a single and double for a run batted in.
Taylor Knaack was the Dordt starter and went four innings and allowed two hits with two walks and struck out one.
Abby Kraemer pitched the final two innings and got the win to improve to 10-3 this season and she struck out one.
Dordt is now 14-9-1 overall and 4-2 in the league while Briar Cliff is 5-3 in the conference and 15-10 overall.
NEXT
Dordt was scheduled to face Waldorf in Forest City on April 5 but that doubleheader has been cancelled. Dordt will travel to Hastings and Doane to face the Broncos and Tigers on Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9.
