Softball Unable to Upend No. 4 Northwestern

In the final game of their doubleheader with No. 4 Northwestern, the Tiger softball team flirted with a major upset but came up short in a 6-5 loss.

Like the first game, the Red Raiders had two innings in which they scored three runs. They took the lead in the fourth inning with a bunt single to plate the first run of the game. An error allowed two more runs to score for a 3-0 lead.

Doane exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Grace Dowding scored on a ground ball to first base but an error allowed Milannie Gonzalez to reach base. With two outs, Jeryn Allen hit a bases clearing triple to put the Tigers in front. Scoring for the Tigers were Gonzalez, Jasmine Villegas, and Bri True. Faith McDonald followed with an RBI-single to plate Allen as the final four runs scored were unearned.

In the seventh inning, Northwestern came back and took advantage of a Tiger mistake. With the bases loaded and one out, a throwing error to home plate allowed a run to score. McDonald started for the Tigers and was able to get a lineout to shallow left field for the second out of the inning. Doane was one out away from the program's first-ever Top 5 win when the Red Raiders mounted their comeback with a two-run single. All three runs in the inning were unearned.

Dowding opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a single but was stranded at second base as the game concluded.

McDonald threw 7.0 innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on six hits and five walks while striking out one.

The Tigers outhit Northwestern, finishing with eight in the game. True picked up two hits for Doane, including a double. Five different players scored while Allen led the team with three RBI.

Next up for Doane will be a doubleheader in Forest City, Iowa, as the Tigers take on Waldorf at 1 PM on March 21.