Softball Travels to Oklahoma Over Spring Break

Spring break wasn’t what the Dana College softball team expected.  The Vikings had four games against Southwestern College and Bethany College cancelled due to weather.  Dana finished the trip with a 3-3 record.

The Vikings dropped the opening two-game set against Oklahoma Christian.  Playing their first games in over a month, the Vikings struggled.  Dana managed to scratch out three hits in game one.  Maggie Downs (SR, St. Charles, Iowa), Christa Backus (SR, Newton, Iowa), and TJ Beeman (SR, Grimes, Iowa) each had hits on the day. 

Five fielding errors proved to be more than the Vikings could overcome.  Mindy Schoop (JR, Johnston, Iowa) pitched two and one-third innings in the loss.  Schoop allowed five hits and seven runs.  Sina Davis (SO, Van Meter, Iowa) pitched one and two-thirds innings in relief.  Davis allowed three hits and three runs.  Dana lost game one, 10-0.

Game two saw the Vikings race out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning.  Paige Brune (JR, Dodge, NE) got things going with a one-out single.  She then stole second before Downs slapped a single to score Brune.  Beth Richmond (JR, Chariton, Iowa) hit a single to center, which drove in Melena Selzle (JR, Ashland, Neb.) and Downs. Brianne Nutty (SO, Omaha, Neb.) knocked home Richmond with a single. 

Dana’s lead was short-lived.  Oklahoma Christian struck for six runs in the bottom of the fourth. Downs got the Vikings within a run in the top of the fifth with a double down the right-field line.  She was driven home by a Richmond single. 

Dana was unable to draw even and fell, 6-5.  Downs and Richmond led the Vikings with two hits apiece.  Richmond also drove in three runs. Nutty, Ashley Jess (SR, Monroe, Iowa), and Davis combined to give up eight hits and six runs.  Nutty took the loss, giving up five runs and striking out four.

The Vikings then took three of four games in the Oklahoma Christian Triangular.  Dana swept two games from York, 6-2 and 9-1.  The Vikings split two games against Oklahoma Christian.  Dana won the first game, 2-1, before dropping game two, 7-1.

In game one against York, Dana rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning for the win. Nutty, Beeman, and Whitney Newsham (FR, Ashland, Neb.) each had two hits.

Davis pitched the first three innings and gave up six hits and two runs. Jess picked up the win by pitching four innings and striking out four. 

In game two Backus led the Vikings with three hits and two runs batted in.  Four other Vikings had two hits. 

Josie Barrow (SR, Granger, Iowa) picked up the win for Dana.  Barrow pitched four innings, allowing two hits and one run. Nutty pitched the final inning and struck out two batters.

Dana finally broke through against Oklahoma Christian in game three.  The Vikings managed only five hits, but Brune came up with a triple in the top of the sixth inning.  She scored on a Newsham single. 

Cassie Lager (SR, Missouri Valley, Iowa) pitched five and a third strong innings.  She gave up four hits and one run. Schoop came in and picked up the save with two scoreless innings in relief.

The final game of the invitational was against Oklahoma Christian. Downs and Richmond gave Dana a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a single and a double.  That was the only run the Vikings could muster. 

OCU managed one run in the second, two runs in the third, and four in the fourth.  The Vikings committed five errors and managed only five hits. 

Jess took the loss, pitching two and two-thirds innings and giving up three unearned runs.  Schoop and Nutty pitched the final three and a third innings and gave up two hits and four unearned runs.

Dana returned home from spring break with a 5-6 record.  The Vikings are scheduled to open conference play at Hastings College on Tuesday evening.

For more information please contact:

 Shad Beam, Sports Information 402-426-7389 or sbeam@dana.edu.