Sports

Ladyjacks conclude season

By Tyler Ohmann

05/08/2012

The Dakota College at Bottineau softball team’s losing streak reached nine games as the Ladyjacks dropped a pair of doubleheaders to North Dakota State College of Science on Wednesday and Thursday in Wahpeton.

In game one the Ladyjacks jumped out early with two runs in the first, but fell behind after the Wildcats scored twice in the opening frame and three times in the second.

DCB would add one more in the third, but NDSCS would put the game away with a six-run bottom of the fifth to win in five innings 11-3.

Amanda Schmidt took the loss for DCB, pitching all five innings.

“We got off to a good start with two runs in the first, but they just have too much firepower,” said DCB Head Coach Wayne Johnson.

Maria Espindola, Courtney Hart and Sadie Riendeau each collected a pair of hits in the contest.

Game two went much better for the Ladyjacks, but the result was the same—a loss.

The Wildcats scored three times in the opening frame and the bottom of the fourth to seal a 6-2 win, as the Ladyjacks were unable to scrape together enough runs, despite getting 10 base hits.

“This certainly was our best game of this two day series,” Johnson stated. “We did everything pretty well except we couldn’t come up with the big hit and left two many runners on base.”

Jillian Hole took the loss, tossing all six innings for the Ladyjacks. She also led the Ladyjacks with two hits. Also smacking two hits was Emily Olafson. Riendeau had a double, for the only extra base hit of the day for DCB.

Thursday again did not bode well for DCB as the Wildcat offense exploded for a 21 runs in two wins.

In game one, Schmidt was tagged with five-run innings in the second and fourth innings. She took the loss.

The Ladyjacks did score twice in the third, but had a series-low five hits.

“This was the most disappointing game of the series. I thought we would come ready to play as this was the final day of our season. We did not,” Johnson stated. “We had our poorest game of the two days in the field and at the plate.”

The Ladyjacks committed four errors on the day.
Hart had two doubles, a run scored and a run batted in (RBI) to lead the DCB offense.

The final  game again went the way of the Wildcats as they pounded 11 hits and scored 11 times, including five times in the bottom of the fifth.

Once again the Ladyjacks were only able to muster two runs and fell 11-2 in the season finale.

“Even though the final score was similar to our first game today I thought we played much better and with more toughness,” Johnson stated. “They just have too many big bats in the lineup.”

As evidence Johnson noted that the Wildcats clobbered 10 home runs in the four-game series, while the Ladyjacks had zero. By winning the season series NDSCS advanced to the Region XIII tournament. Johnson said it’s tough knowing it was the sophomores last game.

“It’s always difficult to see the season end knowing that the sophomores have played their last game in a Ladyjack uniform,” Johnson sated. “Sophomores Destiny Kaus, Maria Espindola, Jess Mehling, Jillian Hole and Whitley Naismith have given us a very good two years and will be greatly missed.”

The Ladyjacks closed the season with a record of 7-17 an improvement from their record of 4-16 from a year ago.