Dana Softball Wins Four of Last Five on Spring Road Trip

March 26, 2007—The Dana softball team won four of their last five games over the weekend in California to finish their spring break road trip at 5-6.  The Vikings overall record stands at 11-12.

After starting the road trip with four consecutive losses including two to NAIA #1 California Baptist, the Vikings won their first game of the trip on March 20 defeating Amherst College 9-1.  Heather Parsons (SR, Ottumwa, IA) and Sarah Sempek (SR, Omaha, NE) each had three hits for Dana.  Third baseman Christa Backus (JR, Newton, IA) sparked a five run fifth inning for the Vikings with a 3 run home run.  Mindy Schoop (SO, Johnston, IA) and Cassie Lager (JR, Missouri Valley, IA) combined to give up only 1 run while striking out seven Amherst batters in seven innings.

In their second game on March 20, the Vikings were defeated by Division III #1 University of St. Thomas.  St. Thomas scored in every inning, while Dana struggled defensively committing six errors in the game.  The lone highlight for the Vikings came in the fourth inning when Maggie Downs (JR, St. Charles, IA) hit a three run home run.

Dana won a pair of games on March 22 defeating Wesleyan University of Connecticut 8-0 and Elmhurst College of Illinois 10-1.  Backus and Lindy Bohlman (SO, Denison, IA) each hit home runs against Wesleyan while Lager pitched six shutout innings.  Bohlman was also 3 for 5 at the plate versus Elmhurst while Schoop pitched seven strong innings only giving up one run to get the win.

On March 23, Dana pounded out 17 hits to defeat Augsburg College 18-2.  Josie Barrow (JR, Woodward, IA) had two home runs while going 3 for 4 at the plate and knocking in 4 runs.

On March 24, the final day of the Vikings’ road trip, Dana split a pair of games losing to Babson College 4-0 and then defeating Williams College 8-5.  Dana struggled at the plate and was only able to manage two hits versus Babson.  Against Williams, Sempek had 3 hits and Backus had two hits including a home run.  Barrow was the winning pitcher.

“Overall, we were 5-6 on the trip, but four of our six loses were against the top rated teams in NAIA and Division III,” commented Head Coach Marcy Roff.  “It was good to see the level of the competition that we hope to see in the post season.”

Dana is 11-12 overall and 1-1 in conference.  The Vikings will next be in action at home on March 27 against GPAC foe Hastings College.  The JV game is scheduled to start at 3:00pm and the varsity will throw the first pitch out at 5:00pm.

For more information, contact:


Shad Beam, sports information director, (402) 426-7367, sbeam@dana.edu

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Scott Guzinski, assistant Sports Information Director, (402) 426-7949, sguzinsk@dana.edu