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

March 24, 2001

VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota jumped to an early lead and turned back a late rally to defeat the University of North Dakota at the DakotaDome Classic on Saturday. For the Coyotes, the win was their fifth win in the last six games and improved their overall record to 10-11. North Dakota, who had defeated Minnesota State, Moorhead in the tourney's first game Saturday, fell to 6-9 on the season.

The Coyotes jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Leanna Chapman (Rapid City, S.D.) led off with a triple and scored as Janice Alswager (Columbus, Neb.) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. After Julie MacRunnels (Sioux Falls, S.D.) popped out to the pitcher, senior all-American catcher Tiffany Davis (Hawarden, Iowa) hit a two-run home run. For Davis, it was her third straight home run in last three official at bats dating back to the doubleheader with Morningside on Wednesday.

In the third, the Coyotes tallied three more runs, with a little help from the Fighting Sioux. Davis led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Jessica Bills (Sioux Falls, S.D.). After freshman first baseman Keri Bolte (Ralston, Neb.) reached on a walk, senior shortstop Melanie Robotham (Seward, Neb.) reached on an error by UND's rightfielder with Davis scoring on the play. Kaja Martinson (Burnsville, Minn.) reached on a fielder's choice as Bolte was thrown out at the plate. On the play Robotham advanced to third. After Martinson stole second, Aimee Mertens (Ham Lake, Minn.) reached on an error by UND that allowed both Coyote runners to score.

In the fourth inning, North Dakota tallied its first run when Holly Bonk doubled to right center and scored when Marsi Wadsworth also doubled. UND added two runs in the fifth. Stacy Garcea singled up the middle and Sarah Striekar reached on a fielder's choice with Garcea out at second. Rachel Braaten singled down the right field line with Strieker advancing to second. Both runners advanced on a single up the middle by Alena Valdez. Doyle reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Striekar to score. Bonk then doubled to right center, scoring Braaten. The Coyotes brought in Tiffany Hill to pitch and she forced Wadsworth to groundout.

UND put the pressure on the Coyotes in the seventh. After one out, Braaten walked and Valdez reached on a fielder's choice with Braaten out at second. Doyle reached on an error by Coyotes leftfielder Jessica Bills and advanced to second with Valdez moving to third on the play. Then Bonk, who had three hits and three rbi in four trips to the plate, singled to score Doyle and Valdez. After Bonk stole third, Hill forced Wadsworth to foul out to right field, ending the rally.

South Dakota had six runs on three hits and committed two errors while North Dakota had five runs on nine hits and three errors. Alswager started and received the win to move her record to 4-2. Alswager pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing seven hits on three runs and recording a strikeout. Hill was credited with a save as she went two and one-third innings, allowing two hits, two runs and a walk.