Freshman Kassidy Cunningham lead the Ladyjacks this past weekend with two fine pitching performances and a player of the week type performance at the plate.
Cunningham and the DCB softball team split a pair of double-headers with NCAA Division III Crown College Feb. 1 and 2 at the Dundas Dome in Northfield, Minnesota.
The Ladyjacks began the series with a 10-7 loss, with Cunningham going the distance and not giving up a single earned run. The Ladyjacks committed 7 errors in a game that they hit and pitched very well in. Cunningham was the hard-luck losing pitcher despite giving up just 6 hits, 1 walk and striking out 7.
"I am not sure if it was nerves or having to adjust to the softer turf but it wasn't pretty", described Head Coach Mike Smith. "We out hit them 11-6. There is no way you should lose a game when you outhit and outpitch your opponent that badly. I give our girls credit we battled hard and had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 7th. Just couldn't quite recover."
Cunningham went 2 for 3 with 2 triples and 4RBI. Freshman Ladaija Fitzgerald and Elisa Clay both added 2 hit performances.
In the second game Friday DCB gave up three runs to start the top of the 1st and got two of them back in the bottom of the second. Crown added a run in the third to go up 4-2 but the Ladyjacks tied it a 4 with two runs in their half of the 3rd. DCB scored two more in the fourth and held on for a 6-5 win.
Sophomore Kennedy Cunningham picked up her first win of the season going the distance giving up 3 earned runs on 5 hits, a HBP while striking out 5.
Freshman Michelle Krahn and Nicole Forrest each hit their first homeruns of the season, Forrest's a towering shot to left field that easily cleared the fence by 30 feet.
On Saturday the Ladyjacks defeated Crown 9-7 with Kassidy Cunningham pitching well again giving up just 2 earned runs. DCB committed 4 infield errors helping Crown to stay in it. Cunningham finished with 6 strikeouts while allowing just 4 hits and a walk.
DCB banged out 15 hits with Cunningham picking up 3 hits, including another triple and 2 stolen bases. Krahn had a big day at the plate hitting a single, double and a triple for the day while adding a stolen base.
Freshman Savannah Fabro chipped in two hits while Forrest added two doubles.
The Ladyjacks fell in the night cap 12-10. They made it interesting scoring two in the last inning and leaving the bases loaded.
Kennedy Cunningham picked up the loss, while her sister Kassidy and red-shirt freshman RanDee Charlo pitched in relief.
12 more hits for the Ladyjacks lead by Forrest who picked up 3 hits including 2 doubles. Freshman catcher Sky Lyn Karonis added two hits.
"Considering we played a four year school's Varsity team the results were pretty good. We will clean-up our defense and get re-grouped after the school break," stated Smith.
The Ladyjacks will be off until March 25,26 when they will play 6 games in the Irish Dome in Rosemount, Minnesota. The will play 5 games against Minnesota Division III Regional opponents and a game vs Division II Lake Region State. DCB earlier defeated LRSC 11-2 in the beginning of March.