Two wins Thursday have put the Ladyjacks softball team one win away from qualifying for the 2019 NJCAA Division III National Tournament.
DCB opened the tournament with a 7-3 win over Northland College on Thursday.
Northland opened the scoring in the first inning with a run only to have the Ladyjacks even it in the bottom of the first on a base hit by leadoff hitter Kassidy Cunningham, followed by a sac bunt by Stephany Ahmed and an RBI single by Savannah Fabro.
The Ladyjacks scored 4 in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 5-1 lead. The big blow was a three run homerun by Fabro, her 3rd of the season, and her team leading 39th RBI.
Northland scored two in the 5th cutting it to 5-3. Randee Charlo lead off the 6th with a single, pinch hitter Alysha Cantu also singled and Summer DarcAngelo sac bunted them into scoring position. Cunningham followed with a single scoring Charlo and pinch runner Hayley Crawford, putting DCB up 7-3. Northland didn't score in the seventh handing DCB the all-important opening game win.
Cunningham went the distance in the circle striking out 11, walking 3 and giving up 5 hits. Cunningham and Fabro each had three hits while Ladaija Fitzgerald and Stephany Ahmed added two each.
The second game had the Ladyjacks facing the host team Central Lakes. Central Lakes had defeated Itasca 5-2.
The Ladjacks opened the scoring in the top of the 1st with a pair of runs after RBI singles by Fabro and Claire Hiebert. DCB added a run in the 4th and 5th innings to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Central Lakes scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 5th and a single run in the 6th to set up a thrilling last inning. DCB went three up, three down in their half of the 7th. Central Lakes refused to give up. The first two batters walked with the third batter putting down a sac bunt. The Ladyjacks threw the ball away allowing the tying run to score and putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with none out. The next batter struckout with the following hitter getting hit by a pitch. Bases loaded, one out winning run at third base. The next batter hits a deep fly that center fielder Stephany Ahmed makes an outstanding play on and quickly throws the ball in. The runner failed to tag up and the bases where still loaded with two out. A groundout to 2B ended the 7th tied at 4.
In the first extra inning the Ladyjacks scored three runs. Fitzgerald lead off the inning with a HBP. Randee Charlo lined out to second followed by a single by Elisa Clay. Skylyn Karonis hit a hard ball to the SS who threw out Fitzgerald at 3B. Cunningham singled loading the bases for the number two hitter Ahmed. Ahmed hit a ball to right field for a three run triple putting the Ladyjacks up by three.
Cunningham, who had come in to relieve starter Randee Charlo, faced four batters ending the game after a rocky 7th inning. Ladyjacks win 7-4.
The Ladyjacks now await the winner of Central Lakes and Northland College who defeated Itasca 2-1 in the elimination game. That game goes at noon with the winner facing the Ladyjacks at 2:00pm. The Ladyjacks must now be beat twice. The winner will advance to the NJCAA Division III National Championships May 23-25 in Rochester, Minnesota. DCB softball has never advanced to a National Tournament.