Vikings End Regular Season with Split

 The Dana College Softball team finished the 2007 regular season by dropping three of its last four games.  The Vikings were swept by Concordia on Monday evening 0-17 and 4-10.  Then they split with Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln on Tuesday with a 3-1 win and a 1-5 loss.  Dana finished its regular season in a tie for second place with Northwestern College.

Things did not fall the Vikings way in game one on Monday night in Seward.  Viking starter Josie Barrow (JR, Woodward, IA) was knocked out of the game early.  Barrow pitched one inning, gave up seven runs, and had no strikeouts.  Her replacement, Christa Backus (JR, Newton, IA) lasted only two innings.  She gave up ten hits, ten runs, and had no strikeouts.  Coach Roff brought in freshman Sina Davis (Van Meter, IA) to pitch the last inning.  Davis allowed no runs or hits.  The Viking offense was held to one hit and only five base runners. 

Game two faired just as bad for the Vikings.  Cassie Lager (JR, Missouri Valley, IA) lasted only two and two-thirds innings.  She gave up ten runs on ten hits, while striking out six Bulldogs.  Sina Davis made her second relief appearance.  Davis pitched three and a third innings without giving up a hit or run.  The Vikings managed only six hits off the Bulldog pitchers.  Janez Anderson (SR, Albion, NE) and April Groteluschen (SR, Columbus, NE) each hit doubles for Dana. 

Coach Roff’s team did not have time to lick their wounds, as they had to travel to Lincoln to finish the regular season against Nebraska Wesleyan.  The Vikings fell behind 1-0 after the first inning.  Dana did not give up and tied the game up in the top of the third as Beth Richmond (SO, Chariton, IA) homered to left center.  Dana took the lead in the top of the fifth as Janez Anderson scored on a Maggie Downs (JR, St. Charles, IA) double.  Dana capitalized on a NWU error to add an insurance run in the sixth.  Cassie Lager pitched a complete game allowing seven hits, one run and struck out five.
Dana could not keep the momentum in game two as they fell 5-1.  Cassie Lagar started the second game and pitched three innings.  She gave up one run on four hits.  Sina Davis made her third straight relief appearance.  Davis pitched three innings and gave up four runs on three hits.  Davis also struck out three Prairie Wolves.  Sarah Sempek went two for three in the second game and scored Dana’s only run.

The Vikings finished the regular season at 31-18 and 18-6 in GPAC play.  Dana has earned the third seed in the upcoming GPAC tournament.  Dana will play Dakota Wesleyan University on Thursday, May 3 at 2:00pm in Sioux City, Iowa.    This year’s championship will be played at the SYA Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa (Riverside).  The tournament will be played according to an eight team double-elimination bracket.  The tournament will be played on Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4, 2007.
For more information, contact:

Shad Beam, sports information director, (402) 426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu
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Scott Guzinski, assistant Sports Information Director, (402) 426-7949, sguzinsk@dana.edu