March 29, 2001

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. - South Dakota women's softball team found offense aplenty in a sweep over Mount Marty, 12-4, 12-3, on Wednesday night in the DakotaDome. It was a rough start to the season for upstart Mount Marty, playing their initial two games of the season. While the Lancers showed offensive spark at times, the night belonged to the Coyotes. South Dakota rolled up 24 runs and 22 hits in their doubleheader sweep. The Coyotes improved their overall record to 15-13.

Game 1 -- USD 12, Mount Marty 4

In game one, South Dakota opened up a 5-0 lead after three innings and rolled to a 12-4 win in five innings. Freshman Sara Medved (Shoreview, Minn.) started and won her third game of the season. Medved (3-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in three and two-thirds innings with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Offensively, the Coyotes were led by all-American Tiffany Davis (Hawarden, Iowa), who had a three run double, and freshman third baseman Mollie Witherbee (Omaha, Neb.), who had three hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Freshman first baseman Keri Bolte (Ralston, Neb.) and Leanna Chapman (Rapid City, S.D.) each collected two hits.

Mount Marty opened the scoring when Elizabeth Fuchser singled to center and advanced on second on an error by South Dakota centerfielder Julie MacRunnels (Sioux Falls, S.D.). She scored on a double by Barb Baumberger.

The Coyotes tied the game in the second inning when Melanie Robotham (Seward, Neb.) reached based on a walk. She stole second and scored on a RBI single by Witherbee.

South Dakota added four runs in the third inning on just three hits. Tiffany Hopkins (Cannon Falls, Minn.) opened the inning with a walk and stole second base. Chapman singled with Hopkins advancing to second and MacRunnels reached base on a walk, which set up a three-run double by Davis. Then, Bolte doubled to left center that scored Davis.

In the South Dakota fourth inning, Witherbee singled to right field and advanced to second on an error by Baumberger. After Witherbee moved to third on a wild pitch, she scored two outs later on a single by Medved.

Mount Marty answered with three runs on three hits in their half of the fourth inning. After Chladek walked, Selina Cimpl singled to right field. On consecutive plays, the Coyotes threw out the lead runner. But with two out, Janessa Finley singled to left field with both Lancer runners moving up a base. Fuchser then hit a three-run triple that scored all three base runners. South Dakota made a pitching change to Janice Alswager (Columbus, Neb.) and she struck out Kara Kettler.

The Coyotes scored six more runs on six hits in the top of the 5th inning. After Davis popped out, Bolte and Cara Ellwanger (Rapid City, S.D.) singled with both runners advancing a base on an error by Megan Hegerfeld. On a double steal, Bolte stole home and Ellwanger moved to second. After a ground out, Witherbee singled to score Ellwanger. Then Hopkins singled to right field with Witherbee moving to second. A single by Chapman loaded the bases. Witherbee scored on a walk pitch and then Alswager reached on an error by the shortstop with Chapman and Hopkins scoring on the play. MacRunnels singled to center field that drove in Alswager. Stephanie Kettler took the loss for Mount Marty.

Game 2 - USD 12, Mount Marty 3

South Dakota jumped to a 5-0 lead and cruised to a 12-3 win in game two of the doubleheader with Mount Marty.

Freshman Cara Ellwanger picked up her first win of the season by allowing just two hits in three innings of work. Ellwanger recorded a season high five strikeouts. She entered the game in the second inning after Alswager started and allowed no runs and two hits in one inning of work. Tiffany Hill finished the game, striking out two hitters and allowing no runs and no hits in one inning of work. Stephanie Kettler took the loss for Mount Marty.

The Coyotes scored three runs in the second inning by collecting three hits. After one out, Jessica Bills (Sioux Falls, S.D.) walked and Bolte singled to left field with Bills moving up a base. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch by Kettler. After Robotham grounded out to second base, Kaja Martinson (Burnsville, Minn.) singled to score Bills. After Aimee Mertens (Ham Lake, Minn.) walked, Chapman singled to score Martinson and Bolte.

After one out in the third inning, Davis walked and stole second. One out later, Davis scored on a single by Bolte. Then Robotham tripled to right center to score Bolte.

The Lancers answered the Coyotes' offensive surge with three runs on a pair of hits in the bottom of the third inning. Finley walked with one out and Fuchser reaching on a throwing error with Finley advancing to second. Kettler doubled to right center, scoring Finley. One out later, Hegerfeld singled up the middle, scoring both Kettler and Fuchser.

In the South Dakota fourth inning, Mertens beat out an infield hit and advanced to second on a throwing error. Mertens promptly stole third and scored when Mount Marty tried to throw her out at the plate on an infield grounder off the bat of Chapman. Ellwanger laid down a bunt single with Chapman scoring on an error by Mount Marty. MacRunnels singled through the right side, which scored Ellwanger. Then, Davis hit her 11th home run of the season, a two run shot over the left field fence. In the inning, the Coyotes scored five runs on four hits and two errors.

The Coyotes added two more runs in the fifth inning on just one hit. Martinson led off with a walk and stole second, advancing to third on a passed ball. She scored when Mertens grounded out to second base. Pinch hitter Jen Hedegaard walked and moved to second when Tiffany Hill reached on a fielder's choice. MacRunnels laid down a successful bunt single with both runners moving up a base. When Davis walked, Hedegaard scored and the Coyotes' lead grew to 12-3.

In game two, MacRunnels and Bills both had two hits. South Dakota had 12 runs on 10 hits and one error while Mount Marty had three runs on four hits and two errors.