Jenny Lemmerman, Director of Marketing and Communications, (402) 426-7216

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2008

Vikings Split with Flames

Blair, Nebraska ~ Dana softball took advantage of great weather on Tuesday to play a pair of games against College of St. Mary in Blair.  The Vikings lost the first game 2-1 in nine innings.  Dana rallied in game two winning 9-0 in four innings.

Game one was a pitching dual between Dana and CSM.  Neither team was able to push a run across the plate until extra innings.  CSM used a two out single to score the games first run.  Dana answered in the bottom of the inning as a Josie Barrow (SR, Woodward, IA) hit a sacrifice fly to score Maggie Downs (SR, St. Charles, IA) from third base.  The Flames took the lead in the top of the ninth as they put together a hit and a fielder’s choice to score a run.  The Vikings loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning.  Kristina Cox (FR, Des Moines, IA) reached on an error.  Whitney Newsham (FR, Ashland, NE) singled to load the bases.  The Vikings were unable to push a run across and fell 2-1.  Ashley Jess (SR, Monroe, IA) pitched the full nine innings, but suffered the loss.  She allowed five hits and two runs.  Jess also struck-out 12 Flame batters.  Aimee Supanchick (SR, Hazard, NE) was two for four on the day.  TJ Beeman (SR, Grimes, IA), and Newsham had two hits.

Game two saw the Viking bats jump to life.  Dana scored nine runs on four hits and two CSM errors.  Maggie Downs led the game off with a walk and stole second and third base.  Christa Backus (SR, Newton, IA) reached base on an error by the CSM shortstop and drove in Downs.  Brianne Nutty (SO, Omaha, NE) capped the big inning with a grand slam home run.  Nutty went one for two on the day with four RBI’s.  She also picked up the win by pitching four shut-out innings and allowed two hits.  Freshman Kristina Cox went two for three with an RBI and a run scored.  Maggie Downs had three stolen bases and scored two runs.  Paige Brune (JR, Dodge, NE) hit a home run in the victory.

Stats from Game 1 vs. CSM:    http://www.dana.edu/softball/stats08/csmdan1.htm

State from Game 2 vs. CSM:    http://www.dana.edu/softball/stats08/csmdan2.htm

Coach Roff’s Corner

“We have been very streaky all year long with our hitting.  It just seemed like we were not making adjustments to the pitching and it came back to haunt us in the end.  We got great defense and pitching once again.  The good thing is we came back in the second game and hit the ball hard.  We did what we should have been doing all evening long.  This team has all the potential in the world at its fingertips; they just have to figure out how to make it all come together.  They are a great group of girls and I would love to see them make a run in the conference tournament next week so that we can make it to regionals, but one game at a time right now!”

The Vikings are 15-14 overall this season.  Dana will play host to Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday evening and then Dordt College on Friday night for Senior Night.  Then they will travel to Northwestern College on Saturday and Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday.

For more information, please contact Shad Beam, Sports Information Director at sbeam@dana.edu.