Softball Tops DWU, Advances to GPAC Bracket Title Game

Softball played their second game of the day at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament in Orange City, Iowa, taking on Dakota Wesleyan in the winner's bracket game. The Tigers jumped out early and evoked the mercy rule in the sixth inning as they defeated DWU, 11-3.

Grace Dowding opened the game with a single and came around to score on a single by Marisa Marquez. Bri True followed and launched a three-run home run to put the Tigers up 4-0. In the second inning, Jasmine Villegas picked up an RBI-groundout to plate Lexi Adams for a five-run lead. DWU scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to leave Doane up 5-3 after two innings.

Doane came back in the fourth inning to pick up a run on an RBI-single by Jeryn Allen. In the fifth inning, Faith Molina singled to drive in Hannah Pack to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead. Doane broke the game open in the sixth inning as Villegas hit a three-run home run and True added a solo home run to put the Tigers up by eight runs.

True started in the circle for Doane and threw 1.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. Faith McDonald picked up the win as she threw 2.2 innings and did not allow a batter to reach. Molina closed out the game with 2.0 innings of work, allowing three hits and striking out four.

Offensively, Doane posted 13 hits in the game with True going 2-for-2 with two runs and four RBI on her two home runs. Dowding was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Molina was 2-for-3 with a run scored and one driven in. Villegas matched True for team-high honors with four RBI.

Doane advances to the Northwestern bracket championship on Thursday, May 1, at 2 PM. The Tigers will face the winner of the 12 PM game featuring Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan.