March 25, 2001

MSU, Moorhead Box Score | MSU, Mankato Box Score | Southwest State Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota softball team won all three of their games played on Sunday at the DakotaDome Classic. Recaps of the games follow: Game 1: MSU, Moorhead, Game 2: MSU, Mankato, Game 3: Southwest State.

SOUTH DAKOTA 6 MINNESOTA STATE, MOORHEAD 3

South Dakota scored three runs in the top of the seventh and hung on to defeat Minnesota State-Moorhead, 6-3 on Sunday morning at the DakotaDome Classic. The Coyotes jumped to a quick start as senior all-American catcher Tiffany Davis led off the Coyote second inning with a home run, her ninth of the season. Jessica Bills (Sioux Falls, S.D.) followed with a double and one out later, Melanie Robotham singled to score Bill.

Moorhead answered in the third inning by scoring two runs on a pair of hits. Angela Stuhr opened with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored when Jess Steinle doubled down the left field line. After a ground out, Laura Erickson singled down the left field line to score Steinle.

The Coyotes regained the lead in the top of the 4th inning when Robotham walked and was sacrificed to second by Tiffany Hopkins (Cannon Falls, Minn.). She moved to third on a ground out and scored when Leanna Chapman tripled to right center.

In the seventh, the Coyotes tallied three insurance runs on two hits. Cara Ellwanger reached on a walk and moved to second when Chapman singled to left field. Janice Alswager moved the runners up a base when she put down a sacrifice bunt. After Julie MacRunnels walked, Davis tripled down the right field line, which scored all three runners. Moorhead scored a run in the bottom of the seventh when Stuhr singled to left. One out later, Stuhr stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She scored on a ground to the shortstop.

Davis went two for four with a home run and triple and had four RBI while Chapman had two hits in four trips and one RBI. The Coyotes had six runs on eight hits and one error while Moorhead had three runs on nine hits and one error. Jill Potter and Erickson had two hits for Moorhead. Alswager (5-2) earned the victory for the Coyotes as she allowed just one run on six hits in four and two-thirds innings. Sara Medved started for the Coyotes but lasted only two and one-third innings. She gave up two runs on three hits and recorded a strikeout.

SOUTH DAKOTA 9 MINNESOTA STATE, MANKATO 5

The Coyotes rallied from a 3-2 deficit by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn back Minnesota State-Mankato and win their 12th game of the season.

South Dakota jumped to a 2-0 lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. After a Keri Bolte single, Melanie Robotham reached on a fielder's choice with Bolte out at second. Robotham advanced to second on a ground out by Kaja Martinson and Aimee Mertens reached on a fielder's choice with both runners advancing a base on the play. Leanna Chapman tripled to right center, scoring both runners,

The Mavericks tied the game by rallying for a pair of runs in the fourth inning. With one out, Avin Bialowas singled and advanced to second when Katie Karbon was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up a base when Sara Hampton reached on a fielder's choice. Sara O'Groske hit a RBI single with Hampton and Karbon advancing. The ensuing hitter Melissa Blaskowski singled to score Karbon.

The Mavericks took the lead in the fifth when Michelle Seiger singled and moved to second on a sacrifice. After a fly out by Val Hyde, Bialowas doubled, scoring Seiger.

South Dakota answered in a big way in the home half of the sixth inning. Davis led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Bills. Then, after failing to sacrifice, Bolte hit a three-run home run to left field to give the Coyotes a 5-3 lead. However, the Coyotes were not done scoring in the sixth inning. Robotham singled up the middle and pinch hitter Cara Ellwanger was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance and Mertens singled to the pitcher to load the bases. After Chapman struck out, Alswager reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Robotham to score. MacRunnels hit a high chopper to the shortstop, who had to make the play at first, allowing Ellwanger to score. The next hitter, Davis, smoked a shot to center field, which scored Alswager and Mertens. In all, the Coyotes had seven runs on five hits.

The Mavericks attempted their own rally in the top of the seventh inning. Erin Goettlicher singled to open the seventh and moved to third on a double by Hyde. After Bialowas flied to center, Melissa Benkstein singled through the left side, scoring Goettlicher. Sarah Hampton followed with a RBI double to left center with Hyde scoring. But that was the end of the Mavericks' rally as Coyote pitcher Janice Alswager struck out O'Groske and forced a fly out by Blaskowski to end the game.

The Coyotes were led offensively by Bolte who had two hits and three RBI while Chapman had three hits, including a triple, and two RBI. Alswager picked up her sixth win (6-2), going two innings and allowing two runs on five hits with a strikeout. Tiffany Hill started for the Coyotes as she allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings of work. She had two strikeouts.

SOUTH DAKOTA 9 SOUTHWEST STATE 3

South Dakota jumped to a 4-0 first inning lead and rolled past Southwest State, 9-3 in the final game of the DakotaDome Classic on Sunday night.

Chapman opened the first inning by doubling to center and moved to third on a sacrifice by Janice Alswager. Julie MacRunnels walked and stole second before Tiffany Davis hit her 10th home run of the season, a three-run blast to left field. She now has 27 RBI and an unbelievable 1.016 slugging percentage after 24 games this season. After the Davis home run, Jessica Bills doubled to right center and scored one out later on a single by Melanie Robotham.

Southwest State cut into the Coyotes' lead by picking up two runs on two hits in the third inning. After the first two hitters were retired by Coyote starter Tiffany Hill, Jessica Reiman reached on an error and scored after consecutive singles by Reiman and Tammy Helin. Sarah Campbell scored on a double steal attempt with Helin out at second on the play.

South Dakota added single runs in the fourth and fifth and put three more scores on the board in the sixth inning. In the fourth inning, Martinson walked after one out and advanced to second on a ground out by Cara Ellwanger. Alswager singled up the middle, scoring Martinson.

In the fifth inning, Davis reached on an error by the left fieldier, advancing to third on the error. One out later, Davis scored when Bolte hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Southwest State also had a run in the fifth inning on a home run by Tricia Berkowitz.

The Coyotes tallied three runs in the sixth inning on three hits. Tiffany Hopkins opened the inning by singling through the left side. She moved to second when pinch hitter Aimee Mertens walked. Ellwanger moved the runners up a base on a sacrifice. Then, Alswager cracked a two-run single down the right field line, and she advanced to second on the play. One out later, Davis walked and Alswager scored when Bills hit an RBI single to left field.

Tiffany Hill started improved her record to 5-5 by allowing just six hits and three runs (one earned run) in four inning of work. Alswager picked up her first save by finishing the game. She did not allow a hit in three inning of work and recorded a pair of strikeouts. She also had two hits and three RBI. Bills had two hits and a RBI and Chapman had two hits and a run scored. Chapman improved her batting average to .510 on the season with her play this weekend. South Dakota had nine runs on nine hits and three errors. Southwest State had three runs on six hits and one error.