Rosemount, MN—The Marshalltown Community College softball team suffered its first two defeats of the 2014 season, dropping a pair of games to Dakota County Technical College at the Irish Sports Dome on Friday afternoon. The Tigers fell 8-5 in game one and came up short in a 5-2 extra inning loss in game two.
Sarah Wilson (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa) went 4-6 at the plate on the day with one run scored and one RBI but suffered the loss in the circle in game one. The sophomore struck out six batters in 3.1 innings of work. After putting up five runs in the opener, the MCC offense cooled off to start game two, but Brianna James (Lynnville, IA/Lynnville-Sully) kept the Tigers in the game with a strong performance, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. The Blue Knights eventually tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth inning for the win.
The top four batters for MCC, Lexie Biehl (Maquoketa, IA/Maquoketa), Brooke Dunkin (Bussey, IA/Twin Cedars), Wilson, and Holli Baker (Grimes, IA/Dallas Center-Grimes) were a combined 10-24 at the plate with all seven runs scored while the rest of the team went 3-32 on the day.
Dakota County took an early 2-0 lead over the Tigers in game one, but an RBI-double from Dunkin scored Biehl in the top of the third inning to cut the deficit in half. The Blue Knights answered right back, scoring three runs over the next two frames go up 5-1. The
The Tigers stayed in contention thanks to a three-run home run from sophomore Baker in the top of the sixth, scoring Dunkin and Biehl. Wilson added one more run in the inning to bring the game within one, only to see Dakota County respond with three runs in the bottom of the inning off of Baker who relieved Wilson.
MCC put runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings, but the Blue Knights held the Tigers in check. Dakota County took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth and one more in the top of the sixth. MCC used a run from Wilson in the bottom of the sixth to get on the board and with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Wilson drove in Biehl to send the game into extras.
James came out for the eighth inning only to have the Blue Knights send seven runners to the plate and build a 5-2 lead. The Tigers stranded two runners, including Baker on third, in the bottom of the eighth to drop their second game of the day.
The Tigers return to action tomorrow with a full schedule slated. MCC will play four games in the Early Bird Dome Tournament, hosted by Rochester Community and Technical College. MCC will take on Bethel University at 11:30 AM in the opener.
