Vikings Open Season in Springfield

Springfield, Missouri ~ The Dana College Softball team opened their season at the Evangel Early Bird Tournament in Springfield, Missouri last weekend.  The Vikings finished pool play with a 2-1 record, but weather washed away Saturday’s bracket play.

Dana opened pool play against Oklahoma Christian University.  The Vikings struck first in the bottom of the first as Janez Anderson (SR, Albion, NE) reached on an error by the Eagle third baseman.  Anderson crossed home following a Christa Backus (JR, Newton, IA) single.  Beth Richmond (SO, Chariton, IA) hit a single that knocked in Sarah Sempeck (SR, Omaha, NE) who earlier reached on a fielder’s choice.  Viking third baseman Josie Barrow (JR, Woodward, IA) then drove in two runs with a single.  Dana ended up scoring five runs in the second.  Oklahoma Christian would not go away quietly.  The Eagles would even the score in the top of the next inning off Viking starter Christa Backus and relief pitcher Josie Barrow. The score would remain tied until the top of the fifth when Oklahoma City would push across one run off of Barrow.   Dana would answer in the bottom half of the inning as Anderson would lead off with a home run.  The Vikings would score three more runs to take a 9-6 lead.  Josie Barrow would weather an Eagle comeback attempt in the top of the seventh, but Dana would escape with a 9-8 victory.  The win would give head Coach Marcy Roff her 100^th career win as a Viking.

Dana would not have much time to celebrate their win as the next played host Evangel College.  The Lady Crusaders were rated 13^th in the first NAIA national poll.  Evangel would strike in the bottom of first.  Josie Barrow would walk the first runner she faced. Following a pair of passed balls, the Lady Crusaders would push across the first run of the game.  The Vikings would answer in the top of the next inning.  Maggie Downs (JR, St. Charles, IA) would hit a triple to score Christa Backus, who was hit by a pitch, to even the score.  Downs would cross home as Beth Richmond reached first on an error by the Evangel third baseman.  Richmond would head home as Barrow would help he cause by hitting a double.  The Dana lead was short lived as Evangel came back with two runs in the bottom of the third.  The Lady Crusaders would then take the lead in the fourth inning after a single and a pair of passed balls.  The see-saw battle would continue in the top of the fifth.  Janez Anderson would walk and advance to second on a Sarah Sempeck single.  April Groteluschen (SR, Columbus, NE) would advance both runners with a sacrifice hit.  Christa Backus would drive in both runners with a triple.  Backus would score two batters later on a Maggie Downs triple.  The bottom of the fifth would see Evangel knock out Josie Barrow.  Barrow would be replaced on the mound by Christa Backus.  Backus would face four batters and give up two runs.  Sina Davis (FR, Van Meter, IA) would make her college debut with two runners on base.  An error by Maggie Downs would load the bases.  Davis would bear down and force the lady Crusader batter into a ground out to end the threat.  The Vikings would open the top of the seventh with a double by Sarah Sempeck.  Following two Viking strikeouts Morgan Shields (SR, Britt, IA) would slap a single to the outfield allowing Sempeck to score.  Dana took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.  Mindy Schoop (SO, Johnston, IA) would come in and strike out the three batters she would face to save the game for the Vikings.  Dana would come out on top 7-6 

Game three on Friday afternoon would see Dana square off against local foe Bellevue University.  Dana would take the lead in the third inning off a Josie Barrow triple.  Barrow would come home on an error by the Bruin centerfielder.  Bellevue would do their damage in the top of the fifth.  The Bruins would push three runs across home in the inning.  Dana had opportunities in the bottom of the sixth to even the score, but could not get the run across the plate.  The Vikings would fall 3-1.

Weather forced the cancellation of the tournament play on Saturday.  The weather also forced cancellation of Wednesday’s home opener against the College of St. Mary.  Coach Roff’s crew will next take the diamond on March 9 and 10 at the Hastings tournament.  Dana will play Bethany College at 2:00pm, College of St. Mary at 4:00pm, and Black Hills State at 6:00pm on Friday, March 9.  The Vikings will take on a pair of conference opponents on day two of the tournament.  Dana will square off against Midland Lutheran at 10:00am and Doane at 2:00p on March 10.  The next scheduled home game is on March 13 against Peru State in a double header at 5:00pm.

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