SIOUX CENTER, Iowa — Dakota Wesleyan Softball faced the York (Neb.) Panthers and Culver-Stockton Wildcats to open the American State Bank Sports Complex Classic and the 2026 campaign.
The Tigers opened the season against York and were able to take advantage of an error and subsequent wild pitch, which carried leadoff hitter Macy Moore from an original single all the way to third base before Liliana Arreola sent her home on a grounder. Dakota Wesleyan was able to hold its 1-0 lead steady for a few innings off the back of Mandalyn Nachtigall on the mound, who ended up recording three strikeouts during the contest, but an explosive third inning from the Panthers gave them a 3-1 lead over DWU. Dakota Wesleyan was able to respond in a big way in the next frame, with Jaycee Tebay cranking a home run to right-center field to kick off a seven-run fourth inning. Elle Feser, Ashlen Johnson, and Arreola were all able to record RBIs before Tebay recorded another RBI of her own following a single, pushing the DWU lead to 8-3.
York had a response of their own in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, however, as they were able to put together six total runs to reclaim a 9-8 lead heading into the sixth frame. Quick offensive outings from the Tigers kept the contest in York's favor before the top of the seventh, where Jordyn Blogg was able to knock in a big double down the right-field line with two outs on the board to record two RBIs and give the Tigers a 10-9 lead. The subsequent offense attempt from York was ultimately shut down by the defense and Allyson Muth on the mound, leading to a DWU victory. Stephen Oswald Jr. also records his first win as the head coach of the program following the result.
The second contest of the day saw DWU take on the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton, which was dominated by 2025 GPAC Freshman of the Year Alison Ernsberger on the mound. Ernsberger was able to tally six strikeouts and only allow three hits in what became a complete-game shutout from the Granville, Ohio native. Tebay was able to get the scoring effort rolling with a single in the bottom of the first before an added single from Arreola, set up by a double from Kassidy Lopez, continued the team's momentum before more points rolled in. Tebay recorded her second RBI of the contest right after Arreola's single before a CSC error resulted in a 4-0 lead in favor of DWU. Ernsberger was supported by an impressive effort from her defense and was able to keep the Wildcat offense at bay. A homerun from Johnson in the fifth and a single RBI from Macy in the sixth pushed DWU's final score to 7-0 by the end of the contest. The Tigers start the season 2-0 and will continue competition in Sioux Center over the weekend.
DWU Softball will be back in action tomorrow, February 7th, as they continue their run down in Sioux Center, with action starting against Mount Mercy at 9:00 AM. See the full 2026 schedule here.