[Softball] Softball Splits with Mayville, Dickinson

Doane Softball opened their North Dakota trip with two games on Thursday as the Tigers took on Mayville State in their first game and Dickinson State in game two. Doane will meet both teams again on Friday, filling the void of the doubleheaders against each team that was scheduled originally in Crete this past week but were postponed due to rain.

Mayville State
Doane used five straight singles to open the game and posted a 4-2 win over the Comets in the opening game of the day. 

To open the first inning, the Tigers were able to post five singles to plate three runs before an out was recorded. The Tigers put pressure on the Mayville State defense with three more balls put in play, however, the Comets recorded force outs at third base each time to escape the inning.

Mayville State used a solo home run in the 2nd inning to cut into the lead only to have Doane answer with a run in the 3rd. Alicia Vint (SO/Onalaska, Wash.) had a two-out, RBI-single, to give Doane a 4-2 lead. The Comets scored their final run in the 5th inning on a throwing error.

Doane out-hit Mayville State, 14-5, in the game as Kayla Miller (FR/Yuciapa, Cali.), Megan Elliott (FR/Simi Valley, Calif.) and Vint had three hits apiece. Jade Hill (FR/San Diego, Calif.) and Angelina Esqueda (FR/Las Vegas, Nev.) added two hits apiece. The Tigers collected three stolen bases in the game as well.

In the circle, Shelby Downard (SO/Marysville, Kan.) started for Doane and went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.

Dickinson State
The Tigers and Bluehawks met up for the third time this year, meeting in the season opener for two games. For the second time, Dickinson won a low-scoring affair in shutting out the Tigers, 3-0.

The first Bluehawks run came in the bottom of the 1st on an infield single to load the bases but a throwing error in an attempt to get the batter at first allowed a run to score. Dickinson State added two more runs in the 3rd inning as a double plated one run and the batter advanced to third as the ball got away on the throw to the plate. The DSU batter, standing at third, saw a vacated home plate as the Tiger defense was returning to their positions and stole home.

Dickinson State was able to hold the Tigers in check, as Doane had one hit in the game by Haley Kennedy (JR/Lincoln, Neb.) and was unable to take advantage of three walks and a hit batter. The Bluehawk defense made several key snags on hard hit balls and also turned two double plays.

Josie Schnakenberg (JR/Wahoo, Neb.) threw a complete game, 6.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out nine.