Vikings Falls in Regionals

Dickinson, North Dakota ~ The Dana College Softball team went 3-2 in the Region III softball tournament hosted in Dickinson, North Dakota last week.  Dana lost the opener to Jamestown in extra innings 4-3.  The Vikings then defeated GPAC foes Concordia (5-3) and Northwestern (7-2).  Dana then knocked out Minot State 5-0, before being eliminated by Morningside 11-4.

In the opening game of the tournament, Dana and Jamestown played each other scoreless for the first four innings.  The Jimmies then erupted for three runs off Viking starter Cassie Lager (JR, Missouri Valley, IA) in the top of the fifth.  Dana got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning when first baseman Sarah Sempek (SR, Omaha, NE) smashed a homer to right field.  The Vikings drew even in the bottom of the sixth.  Christa Backus (JR, Newton, IA) hit a two out double.  Jackie Holzer (SO, Woodbine, IA) then pinch ran for Backus.  Janez Anderson (SR, Albion, NE) then slapped a single to left field that scored Holzer.  Anderson then crossed home following a April Groteluschen (SR, Columbus, NE) single.  The two teams were scoreless into the top of the eighth.  Jamestown capitalized on a two out double and a Viking error to score the winning run 

Dana was relegated to an elimination game against Concordia University.  The Bulldogs had beaten the Vikings four straight games, including in the GPAC tournament final less than a week before.  Dana would not let recent history repeat itself.  The Vikings struck for two runs in the third inning.  Beth Richmond (SO, Chariton, IA) hit a double to deep center field.  She was then driven home by Josie Barrow (JR, Woodward, IA).  Barrow crushed the first pitch from the Bulldog pitch over the right center field fence.  Concordia would not go down without a fight.  The Bulldogs scored a single run in the top of the fourth and then two more in the top of the fifth.  Dana stormed back in the bottom of the fifth with three runs.  The Vikings used three hits and a Bulldog error to knock the Bulldogs out of the Region III tournament.

The Vikings would then face another GPAC rival in the next round.  Dana would knock out Northwestern 7-2.  The Vikings struck first in the bottom of the first.  Maggie Downs (JR, St. Charles, IA) would line a homerun over the left field fence.  Dana would then put a five spot on the board in the bottom of the second.  The Vikings would string together five straight hits and plate four runs before the first out.  Richmond would score the fifth run of the inning off a Red Raider error.  Dana would put an insurance run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Richmond would again capitalize on a Northwestern error to cross home plate.  Cassie Lager would pitch five and a third innings.  She allowed two runs on seven hits and strike out two batters.  Christa Backus would pitch the final inning and two-thirds.  Backus would not allow a run and only one hit and strike out two Bulldog hitters.

Dana would survive to face Minot State in yet another elimination game.  Lager would team up with freshman Sina Davis (Van Meter, IA) to shut-out the Beavers and limit them to just three hits.  The Vikings struck for three runs in the bottom of the second inning.  Janez Anderson would smack a homerun to centerfield.  Paige Brune (SO, Dodge, IA) would walk and be advance to third on a Lindy Bohlmann (SO, Denison, IA) single to left.  Coach Roff asked Beth Richmond to lay down a single to score Brune, Richmond would be safe on the play.  Bohlmann crossed home plate on a Josie Barrow sacrifice fly to right field.  Dana would then score single runs in the third and sixth innings to put the game out of reach.

Dana would be eliminated by GPAC regular season champion Morningside College 11-4.  The Mustangs erupted for three runs on three hits in the top of the first.  They would add two more runs in the top of the fifth.  Dana would finally get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth.  Beth Richmond would hit another homerun in the Region III tournament.  The top of the seventh was one to forget as Morningside put the game out of reach with six more runs.  Dana would put forth one more push.  Josie Barrow would hit a two run homerun.  Maggie Downs would walk and advance one a passed ball to draw Dana within seven runs.  The Vikings could not push across anymore runs.

Dana would end their season at 37-22.  The Vikings graduate four seniors off this year’s team.  They return two-time GPAC Player of the Year Josie Barrow and two more first team all-conference selections, Cassie Lager and Lindy Bohlmann.