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

March 21, 2001

VERMILLION, S.D. - South Dakota women's softball team split a doubleheader with Morningside College in nonconference action on Wednesday night in the DakotaDome. Morningside won a slugfest in game one with a 17-6 decision before South Dakota rebounded by scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh for a thrilling 5-4 win in the second game of the doubleheader. South Dakota moves to 9-11 on the season and Morningside is 8-12.

MORNINGSIDE 17 SOUTH DAKOTA 6

The Mustangs put on an offensive display in game one, scoring five runs in both the first and sixth innings as they rolled past South Dakota, 17-6. Morningside had 17 runs on 17 hits and one error while South Dakota had six runs on nine hits and no errors. Kelly McGill of Morningside four hits, four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Mustang attack. For the Coyotes, Tiffany Davis (Hawarden, Iowa) had two home runs and four RBI. After the two home runs, Davis was walked intentionally in her next six at bats of the doubleheader.

Morningside opened a 5-0 first inning lead by knocking out starting pitcher Tiffany Hill (Sioux Falls, S.D.), who lasted just one-third of an inning. The key hit was McGill's grand slam. In the bottom of the first, the Coyotes answered with three runs. After Janice Alswager (Columbus, Neb.) walked and stole second, Julie MacRunnels (Sioux Falls, S.D.) walked with Alswager advancing to third on a wild pitch. Then, Davis hit her first of two home runs in the game, a three-run shot to centerfield. South Dakota pulled within 5-4 in the third when Davis again hit a home run to right centerfield.

The Mustangs responded by scoring three runs in the fourth, four runs in the fifth and five runs in the sixth inning. The Coyotes scored a run in the fourth and another in the sixth.

Hill allowed four hits and five runs and was lifted after one third of an inning. Alswager pitched four and one-third innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits. She was lifted in the fifth for freshman Sara Medved (Shoreview, Minn.), who allowed two hits and three runs in one-third of an inning. Cara Ellwanger (Rapid City, S.D.) pitched one inning for the Coyotes, allowing three hits and a run. Steph Mullaney was the winning pitcher, going three innings, allowing five hits and four runs. Melissa Hansen pitched the final three innings, allowing four hits and two runs.

SOUTH DAKOTA 5 MORNINGSIDE 4

South Dakota scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a 5-4 win and a split of the doubleheader with Morningside. Hill also started the second game and fared much better against the Mustangs. She threw a complete game, nine-hitter in moving her record to 3-5 on the season. She allowed four runs, walked four hitters and struck out a hitter.

Leanna Chapman (Rapid City, S.D.) had three hits in four trips with a run scored and a RBI. Jessica Bills (Sioux Falls, S.D.) had a pair of hits including a double, and freshman Keri Bolte (Ralston, Neb.) also had two hits. The Coyotes had five runs on 11 hits. Morningside had four runs on nine hits. JJ Benson, Melissa Staley and Carissa Beller had two hits for the Mustangs.

South Dakota jumped to a quick lead by exploding for four runs in the second inning. After senior shortstop Melanie Robotham (Seward, Neb.) reached base on a fielder's choice, Hill singled to third base with Robotham advancing to second. Aimee Mertens (Ham Lake, Minn.) reached on a field choice, which advanced both runners, and Chapman singled to score Robotham. After Kaja Martinson struck out, MacRunnels hit a three-run triple but was out at the plate attempting to score. Morningside picked up a run in the fourth inning when Beller doubled, scoring Melissa Staley, who had opened the inning with a walk. Morningside tied the game in the fifth inning. Julie Skoruppa walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. JJ Benson walked and Molli Laing singled to load the bases. Staley singled to centerfield and when the ball got past the Coyotes, all three runners scored.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Davis was intentionally passed and Bills doubled to right center, just missing a game winning home run. Bolte singled to the shortstop but Davis and Bills stayed put, setting the stage for Robotham's game winning single to right center. The hit scored Davis and gave the Coyotes their ninth win of the season.