Official Athletic Web Site of the University of South Dakota Coyotes - Softball

Wildcats rally for three runs in fifth; score winning run in bottom of seventh.

March 17, 2001

VERMILLION, S.D. - Wayne State (3-7) rallied for a 5-4 win over South Dakota by tying the game with three runs in the fifth and scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning at the DakotaDome Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Coyotes jumped to a 3-0 lead after two innings and added a run in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead before Wayne State rallied.

South Dakota scored an unearned run in the first inning after sophomore Janice Alswager (Columbus, Neb.) walked and advanced to second on a single to right field by junior Leanna Chapman (Rapid City, S.D.), who had two hits and a run scored in the game. Alswager scored after sophomore Julie MacRunnels (Sioux Falls, S.D.) reached on a fielder's choice and an error by the Wildcats. In the second inning, South Dakota scored two runs on one hit and an error. Senior Jessica Bills (Sioux Falls, S.D.) walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Keri Bolte (Ralston, Neb.). After a groundout, freshman Kaja Martinson (Burnsville, Minn.) singled through the left side with Bills moving to third. On a double steal, Bills stole home and Martinson took second as the Coyotes moved ahead 2-0. In the same inning, Martinson advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Aimee Mertens (Ham Lake, Minn.) reached on a throwing error.

Wayne State scored in the third without the benefit of a hit. After Brandi Brockhaus walked, she advanced to third on two Coyote errors. She scored on a sacrifice fly by Michelle Lewis.

Chapman opened the fifth inning with a double and scored when senior all-American Tiffany Davis (Hawarden, Iowa) ripped a shot through the left side.

In the fifth, Brockhaus singled to left field and Sarah Micheel reached on a fielder's choice. Following a strike out, Lewis singled through the left side, with Micheel advancing to second and Brockhaus to third. Theresa Garlow singled to right center, scoring both runners with Lewis out on a play at the plate. Garlow advanced to third on the play and scored when Codi Drieling singled to right center. Then, Wayne State won the game in the seventh after Sarah Herrick singled and Lewis reached on a fielder's choice. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch and Herrick scored on a fielder's choice (Garlow) when the Coyotes' throw to the plate was just late.

Alswager allowed four runs and six hits in five innings of work. She had two strikeouts and walked a hitter. Sara Medved (Shoreview, Minn.) was the losing pitcher, allowing two hits and one run in an inning of work. Medved dropped to 1-4 on the season. Katie New was the winning pitcher in relief of Lewis. Lewis allowed four runs in six and one-third innings of work. Chapman had two hits including a double and a run scored while Martinson also had two hits and a run scored. Senior Melanie Robotham (Seward, Neb.) had a double for South Dakota.