Softball Notches Second Consecutive Shutout

BRANSON, Mo. — Doane softball closed its Tuesday action in Branson with a second straight shutout, defeating Missouri Valley 7-0 after opening the day with a 6-0 win over Harris-Stowe.

The Tigers moved to 9-10 on the season by limiting Missouri Valley to three hits and getting a combined shutout from Faith McDonald and Lauren Dick. McDonald started and threw three hitless innings, allowing only a hit batter while striking out one. Dick earned the win in relief, covering the final four innings and allowing three hits with one strikeout.

Doane jumped in front immediately with a two-run first inning. After Jacqueline Ordonez reached on an error and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by McDonald, Kayla Meyer brought home the first run with an RBI double to center. Evelyn Iniguez followed with another RBI double to left to make it 2-0.

The Tigers threatened again in the second when Ciara Hudson tripled to right to open the inning, but Missouri Valley turned a fielder's choice at the plate and then a double play to escape further damage.

Doane's pitchers kept Missouri Valley off balance throughout. McDonald retired the side in order in the first and worked around a hit batter in the second. Dick took over in the fourth and stranded a runner in each of the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to preserve the shutout.

The Tigers finally broke the game open in the seventh. Iniguez led off with her second double of the game and Hannah Pack followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Hudson drew a walk to load the bases, and Jeryn Allen delivered a two-run single to left. On the next sequence, Allen stole second and Hudson stole third, with Hudson scoring on a Missouri Valley error for a 5-0 lead. Milannie Gonzalez later doubled home Allen, then scored herself by stealing home to cap the five-run inning.

Iniguez paced Doane offensively by going 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Gonzalez finished 1-for-4 with a double, RBI, run scored and a stolen base, while Meyer went 1-for-3 with an RBI double. Hudson added a triple, walk and run scored, Allen drove in two runs, and Pack supplied a seventh-inning double and scored.

Doane totaled eight hits, including five doubles and a triple, while the defense worked around one error. Missouri Valley fell to 1-13.

After recording two shutouts on the day, the Tigers finished Tuesday with 14 scoreless innings and improved to 2-0 in Branson.

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