Conference rivals squared off in a pair of softball games in Sioux Center Thursday.
In game one Morningside used the 3rd and 4th innings to put themselves ahead. Both teams only amassed one hit through the opening two innings until Sydney Peterson advanced Ellie Cropley home on a double to put the Mustangs up 1-0.
Morningside then took advantage of a leadoff single and a pair of errors to add to their lead in the 4th.
Dordt saw runners on the base paths in the 6th when Kenzie Cunard hit a one-out single, followed by a Chandler Schemper base hit to put runners on first and second. Morningside pitcher Katherine Wurtz got out of trouble, though, earning the final out on a fielder’s choice.
Down 3-0 in the 7th, Ivy Terpstra opened the inning with a double to left center. Emma Brown then drew a walk, followed by Emma Groen’s RBI single to cut into the deficit. In the next at bat, Ella Koster reached on a single to load the bases, prompting a pitching change. The next three outs were all obtained in a row, using the force out at home in each at-bat to end the game.
THE NUMBERS
Dordt had six batters enter the hit column
Ivy Terpstra scored while going 1-3 at the plate
Emma Groen was 1-3 with an RBI
Abby Kraemer pitched a complete game with five strikeouts
Game Two:
The Morningside Mustangs manufactured a run late and scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to secure an extra inning win over the Dordt Defenders on Thursday, April 21 in Sioux Center.
The Defenders scored first with a Karli Olsen single and she scored on a Chandler Schemper double for a 1-0 lead.
Morningside’s offense didn’t get any traction until the seventh inning when they got a leadoff single and wild pitch advanced the runner to second. A fly ball to right field advanced the runner to third and she eventually scored on a sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning.
Dordt got a runner as far as third base in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t get Jessica Flaherty in. Both teams were scoreless in the eighth and a solo homerun with one out in the top of the ninth eventually won the game for Morningside.
THE NUMBERS
Karli Olsen had two hits for the Defenders and Chandler Schemper had a double and a run batted in.
Hailey Wilkin went six innings and allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Abby Kraemer took the loss with three innings of relief and was charged with two runs on two hits with five strikeouts.
Dordt is 20-13-1 while Morningside is 24-12.
NEXT
Dordt will host the College of Saint Mary on Saturday, April 23 at 1:00.
