Montgomery, Ill. – The #1 seeded Dominican University Softball team started their journey in the NACC tournament and played the fifth seeded Lakeland University in the second round.
Results:
Dominican: 2
Lakeland: 1
How it Happened:
-Dominican and Lakeland each went three up and three down in the first inning.
-The Stars kept the Muskies in check again in the second inning, getting them in order. DU got the first two hits of the game in their half of the second inning, Senior
Ryley Davis and Sophomore
Madisen Butler each got hits. The Stars got runners on the corners but nothing to show for it.
-Lakeland responded with their first two hits of the game in the top of the third inning, but Sophomore starting pitcher
Hannah Richards got out of the jam and kept the game scoreless. In the bottom of the third inning, Sophomore
Kayla Amormino led off with a single, but DU was unable to get a run across.
-Richards got back in the groove by getting Lakeland 1-2-3 in the fourth inning. Dominican just collected a two-out hit in their half of the fourth, but nothing else.
-Lakeland earned a lead off hit in the top of the fifth inning. The Muskie runner got to third before a ground out to second base ended the inning. The Stars went in order in the bottom of the fifth inning.
-Richards kept dealing in the circle getting Lakeland in order for the fourth inning of the game. Ry. Davis collected a two-out hit in the bottom of the sixth but was left stranded on first.
-The first run of the game came in the top of the 7th inning with the Muskies scoring a run on two hits.
-Dominican needed a run to extend the game in the bottom of the 7
th and not fall to the losers' bracket after game one. The inning started with Butler earning her third hit of the game on a single to left field. Freshman
Adison Hasse pinch ran for Butler. Sophomore
Sara Cornell singled on a bunt, with Hasse advancing to third on this play. Junior
Emme Slavens pinch-hit and came up big for DU with an RBI single to left field that brought home the freshman Hasse and tied the game at one. Amormino followed it up with a sacrifice bunt that advanced Cornell to third, and Junior
Kailee Diaz Randall, who pinch ran for Slavens advanced to second. Sophomore
Isabella Olmos due up with a base open was pitched to and made the Muskies pay by hitting a ball hard up the middle that scored Cornell from third and won the game for the Stars.
Shining Stars:
-Sophomore
Hannah Richards earned co-Star of the game, going 7 innings and picking up 2 strikeouts in the win.
-Junior
Emme Slavens came up big in her roll and went 1-1 with an RBI.
-Sophomore
Madisen Butler went 3-3.
-Senior
Ryley Davis continued her fantastic season, going 2-3.
-Sophomore
Sara Cornell went 1-3 with a run scored.
-Sophomore
Kayla Amormino continued to put pressure on the defense, going 1-2.
Leading the Way:
Hits: Butler (3)
Runs: Hasse and Cornell (1)
RBI: Slavens (1)
IP: Richards (7.0)
K's: Richards (2)
What's Next:
Dominican University Softball finishes the regular season with a 25-15 overall record and 19-5 in NACC play. The Stars move to 26-15 on the season and advance to the NACC Tournament Semi-Finals to play the third-seeded Benedictine University. The first pitch between the Stars and Eagles is set for 1:30 p.m. at Aurora University.
