[Softball] Schnakenberg Sets Strikeout Record in Victory
Doane closed out their North Dakota swing on Saturday as they took on Valley City State in a doubleheader. The Vikings are receiving votes in the latest NAIA national coaches' poll. The Tigers took the opening game, 5-4, behind a record-breaking performance from Josie Schnakenberg (JR/Wahoo, Neb.). Valley City State took the second game, 1-0, behind a strong pitching performance of their own which resulted in a no-hitter.
Game One
Schnakenberg was in the zone throughout the game, keeping the Vikings hitters off balance. She would record 15 strikeouts, a school-record, over seven innings of work.
Offensively, the Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 lead through four innings. Kayla Miller (FR/Yuciapa, Cali.) started the scoring with a two-run home run in the 1st inning. Jade Hill (FR/San Diego, Calif.) added to the Tiger lead with a RBI-double in the 2nd inning. Doane's final runs of the game came in the 4th on a two-run single by Angelina Esqueda (FR/Las Vegas, Nev.).
Valley City State broke through in the 5th inning as they collected their first hits against Schnakenberg. VCSU hit a pair of home runs to account for three runs in the inning. In the 7th, the Vikings received another home run to pull within a run only to have Schackenberg strike out the final two batters in the game to break the school record that she had tied the previous inning.
Doane finished the game with 11 hits. Collecting two hits in the game were Hill, Esqueda, Miller, Shelby Downard (SO/Marysville, Kan.), and Alicia Vint (SO/Onalaska, Wash.). Haley Kennedy (JR/Lincoln, Neb.) led the team with two runs scored.
Schnakenberg finished the game allowing four runs on six hits and a walk to go with her 15 punch outs.
Game Two
The Vikings won a pitcher's duel as Emily Smith threw a no-hitter for Valley City State. Downard started for the Tigers and threw 6.0 innings, allowing one run on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
The only run of the game crossed the plate in the first inning following a single, wild pitch, and a double. The run would hold up as Doane was limited to a pair of walks and two batters reaching on errors.