The shorthanded Ladyjack Softball team battled in all five of their games this weekend but full short in each contest. In three of the five games DCB had just nine available players and had a few players playing out of position do to injuries elsewhere.

MCC Series

In game on the Pioneers had the bats going early with three runs in the first, four in the second, and 10 in the third. In the bottom of the third inning the Ladyjack offense found a spark with four runs in the inning. After both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning the Pioneers tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth. In the bottom half of the fifth DCB was able to drive in four more runs but it would not be enough to extend the game falling by a final score of 18-8. Lilianna Valdivia led the team with four RBIs, Valdivia moved her batting average up this weekend to .417 which leads the team. Lexie Nelson had three RBIs and Trinity Tanner drove in one run. On the basepaths Kindal DeGraeve and Brooklynn Hartman each had a stolen base. Hartman also picked up two strikeouts from the mound.

DCB was able to carry over some of the momentum from the end of game one to game two as they opened the game with four runs in the top of the first. MCC was able to get two runs in the bottom of the inning and then tie the game in the bottom of the second. The Ladyjacks however would come right back with two runs of their own and take the lead back at 6-4. The Pioneers tied the game up again in the bottom of the third. MCC would take the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go on and win the game 9-6. Madison Elliot doubled in the game, Lexie Nelson hit her fourth home run of the season, Trinity Tanner also had a homerun it was her second of the season. Tanner and Nelson each had two RBIs, Elliot and Lilianna Valdivia each had one RBI. Valdivia got the start in the circle and had one strikeout. Hannah Funk picked up a strikeout in relief.

 LRSC Series

In game one the Royals scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning. DCB was able to get a run back in the top of the second before LRSC would score five runs in the bottom of the inning. The Ladyjack offense found a grove with four runs in the top of the fourth, but that's as close as they would get falling 11-5. Lexie Nelson and Lilianna Valdivia each doubled in the game, and Brennah McLaughlin was credited with a triple. Trinity Tanner, Brooklynn Hartman, and Valdivia each drove in a run. Valdivia struck out two Royals from the circle.

The Ladyjacks had to forfeit game two due to injury and lack of available players.

 NDSCS Series

In game one DCB struggled to get baserunners on against the #2 ranked team in the latest NJCAA poll registering just three hits. The Ladyjacks saw a good pitching performance from Lilianna Valdivia as in seven innings of work she gave up eight hits and just three earned runs. Valdivia only walked one of the thirty-two batters she faced and struck out two Wildcats. NDSCS would win the game 7-0.

In game two the Wildcats scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning. DCB was able to get on the board with two runs in the top of the third. NDSCS responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 10-2 lead. The Ladyjacks were able to extend the game with three runs in the top of the fifth and a run in the sixth. In the end the Wildcats would get the win 12-6. Hannah Funk doubled and had an RBI. Brennah McLaughlin had three RBIs in the game bringing her season total to 24, she also picked up a stolen base. Hannah Funk and Brooklynn Hartman each recorded a strikeout from the circle.

The Ladyjacks record now moves to 2-22 overall and in the conference. DCB moves on to postseason play this Saturday with the first two games of a best of three series at NDSCS. The winner of this series will move on to the region tournament. Game times for the first two games are 1:00p.m. and 3:00p.m. the third game, if necessary, would be played Sunday time TBD.