Sports

DCB softball opens season out of ND

By Tyler Ohmann

03/27/2012

The Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) Ladyjacks softball team opened their season last Monday and Tuesday in Rosemount, Minn., for contests against schools from around Minnesota and North Dakota.

Though the trip ended in two wins and four losses, the knowledge the Ladyjacks gained was invaluable.

“We did all right for how early it is in the season,” said sophomore pitcher/infielder Jillian Hole. “We definitely have some things we can work on, but we found out what those were.”

The Ladyjacks began on Monday with three losses to teams from the gopher state.

First DCB began with a game against Rainy River, in which they began with a bit of a shaky start.

“We started the game pretty shaky with three errors in the top of the first inning, leading to four unearned runs,” stated Head Coach Wayne Johnson. “After that I thought we settled down and played some decent ball.”

The Ladyjacks fell behind 6-0 after three innings but pulled to within one in the bottom of the sixth.
However, Rainy River poured in two more runs in the top of the seventh and DCB was unable to answer back.

Amanda Schmidt recorded the loss in the game, as she pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs, nine hits and a walk.

Sophomore Destiny Kaus rapped two doubles to lead DCB at the plate.

In the second contest of the day the Laydjacks ran into a buzz saw by the name of St. Cloud Technical College (SCTC).

SCTC scored multiple runs in four innings in route to a 9-1 victory over DCB.

“St. Cloud has a very solid team and played well,” Johnson stated.

Johnson was pleased with the better defensive effort in the contest, but the Ladyjacks scratched only five hits and one run in the game.

“We played OK defensively but struggled at the plate with five hits,” Johnson stated.

Jess Mehling took the loss on the mound, but Johnson was also happy with her performance.

“We were pleased that she gave us the innings as she has not worked on her pitching that much but because of the number of games had to give us some innings,” Johnson stated. “She stepped up and did a nice job.”
Mehling allowed six earned runs on seven hits and had seven walks in five innings.

Sophomores Whitley Naismith, Maria Espindola and Mehling had hits for the Jacks. Also blasting base hits were freshman AliceAnn Sloan and Courtney Hart.
Hole said the trip gave the sophomores and newcomers some time to bond.

“We got a lot of bonding time on a long bus ride,” Hole said. “The freshman are a good asset. I think we can fill every position, and we have a good team.”

The final game of the first day was a heartbreaking loss for DCB as they fell 6-5 to Northland Community College.

Hole pitched a whale of a game as she allowed only three earned runs on 10 hits and had one walk and had seven strikeouts.

The Ladyjacks took the lead in the top of the seventh as they scored two runs to go ahead 5-4.

However, Northland’s best hitter, who rapped in a runs batted in (RBI) double, and a home run earlier in the game, came up and delivered for the Pioneers a game-winning hit.

Mehling led the Ladyjacks from the plate smashing three hits including a triple and three RBI.

Hole started the first game on day two as well.
The game was against MonDak rival North Dakota State College of Science, whom the Ladyjacks beat for the first time last spring.

The game was a tight one as Hole again pitched a gem. She went the distance 7 and 2/3 innings until Laura Lindau hit her second home run of the game to get the win.

Hole struck out 17 Wildcat batters in the losing effort and allowed only two earned runs.

Hole was glad her and her teammates did well on the mound.

“Pitching was really good. I pitched well, and so did our other pitchers, so I have high hopes for that,” Hole said.

Hole is excited for the direction of the team in her second season. She hopes their first win over NDSCS last year, and their near win against them this year, will give them some momentum.

“When we played with them, we really competed, and took it into an extra inning, so I really think we can play with them and win,” Hole said.

Espindola, Mehling and Kaus each rapped a pair of hits in the loss. Mehling had two RBI as well. Sadie Riendau had three RBI.

After losing their first four the Ladyjacks closed the trip with two wins.

DCB held on against Northland Community College to take their first win of the season 8-6.

Amanda Schmidt picked up the win as she stuck it out with a complete game allowing five earned runs on 11 hits and striking out five.

Mehling delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth as she hit a two-run double. Mehling, Naismith and Kaus each had two RBI in the win.

“It was great to pick up our first win of the season in our redemption against Northland,” Johnson stated. “I thought we played better defensively, got some clutch hitting, and had another solid pitching performance.”

DCB closed out their trip to Minnesota with a barrage of hits at the plate. The Ladyjacks scored 13 runs and rapped 14 hits in a 13-5 win over Fon Du Lac.

“This was a great way to finish the two day experience,” Johnson stated. “We hit the ball well, defended well, and our pitchers did a great job of battling through fatigue.”

Hole got the win for DCB as she made her first relief appearance of the season after starter Amanda Schmidt gave up five unearned runs in the second inning.

Hole came in and pitched three innings of relief and allowed only two hits and had no walks.

Mehling had a big game as she clobbered four hits and drove in five runs in the strong offensive effort for DCB.

Also doing well at the plate were Kaus, Hole and Riendeau, who each had a pair of hits in the win.
For the trip Mehling was 13-for-21 with a home run, a triple, five doubles and 13 RBI.

“Overall it was a very good experience,” Mehling said. “We hope the nice weather continues so we can get outside and keep some momentum going.”

The Ladyjacks will open their regular season on April 6 with a doubleheader against MonDak rival Bismarck State College in Bismarck. They will then return April 7 to have their home opener in a doubleheader against the Mystics.