Softball Goes 4-0 in Branson

BRANSON, Mo. — Doane closed out its trip to Branson in emphatic fashion on Wednesday evening, using an aggressive baserunning attack and late power to defeat Dakota State (S.D.) 10-1 in five innings in a neutral-site softball game.

The Tigers improved to 11-10 with the win and scored in three different innings, including a five-run fifth that put the run-rule into effect.

Dakota State struck first with a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the first, but Doane answered immediately and then took control in the second inning. Ciara Hudson opened the frame with a walk, stole second and scored on a Jeryn Allen single through the right side to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning, Hannah Pack dropped down a bunt single to score Allen, and Addison Parsons drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Jacqueline Ordonez for a 3-1 Doane lead.

The Tigers added two more runs in the fourth without recording a hit. Ordonez walked to start the inning, stole second and came home on an error that allowed Milannie Gonzalez to reach and advance to second. After Lexi Adams entered as a pinch runner and stole second, Evelyn Iniguez brought home Gonzalez with a groundout to push the lead to 5-1.

Doane then put the game away in the fifth. Hudson led off with a double and stole third before Allen singled home another run. Gonzalez later added a sacrifice fly to score Allen, and Bri True broke the game open with a two-run homer to right field. Parsons followed with a solo homer to center, giving the Tigers a 10-1 advantage.

Allen finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Pack went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three stolen bases. True was 2-for-2 with two walks, a home run and two RBI. Parsons drove in two runs with a home run, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Hudson scored twice, doubled, walked and stole two bases, while Ordonez added a hit, two runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases.

Doane stole nine bases in the victory to tie the school record, with Pack, Hudson and Ordonez helping set the tone atop the lineup.

In the circle, Trinity Robinson went all five innings to earn the win and move to 3-1 on the season. She allowed one run on six hits, walked one and kept Dakota State off the board after the opening inning. Robinson worked around traffic throughout the outing and induced 11 ground-ball outs.

Dakota State dropped to 6-10. Emmalynn Rabe led the Trojans by going 3-for-3, while Alexia Hayden doubled and drove in the team's lone run.

Doane outhit Dakota State 9-6 and capped the Branson trip with its fourth win in two days.

(generated by ChatGPT)