CRETE, Neb. — Dakota Wesleyan Softball headed south to take on the Doane Tigers in a GPAC doubleheader series as the team looked to continue its winning streak.
The first contest of the two would be a slow burn, but the Tigers were able to post an early 1-0 advantage thanks to an error that allowed Alessandra Ciurca to cross home plate. Doane was able to tie the game up in the bottom of the third with a double to left field, but Dakota Wesleyan was able to reclaim the lead as Liliana Arreola doubled down the left-field line to get Jordyn Blogg across home plate. Doane put up a final attempt at a rally to try to match DWU's scored runs, but would ultimately be shut out of the back half of the game as the defense held strong while Elle Feser secured a third run on a double to right-center field, putting the final score at 3-1. On the mound, Alison Ernsberger recorded her 12th win of the season in a complete-game, seven-strikeout performance, including four posted in the final four innings of play. Following the recorded win, Ernsberger also sits third in the GPAC in total strikeouts, with 123, and fifth in ERA with a 1.92 through this point in the season. Arreola, Macy Moore, and Blogg recorded two hits apiece in game one.
Dakota Wesleyan's offense was unable to score in the first inning, but they made up for it with an explosive second frame as Blogg and Arreola both hit home runs to jump out to a commanding 7-0 lead. Doane would be held scoreless through the five innings played as Mandalyn Nachtigall matched Ernsberger's win total with her 12th of the season, recording two strikeouts against 22 faced batters. With the early damage being done, the second contest slowed in pace, but an eighth run would be put on the board by Jaycee Tebay at the top of the fifth, who reached base on a fielder's choice and got Moore across home plate, moving the contest into run-rule territory. Multiple hits would set Doane up for a late offensive rally, but a double play would end the fifth inning and the contest in favor of DWU, 8-0. With the victories, the Tigers hit 12 wins in a row, which surpasses the previous program record of 11 consecutive wins from the 2016 iteration of the team. Dakota Wesleyan also hits the 30-win mark for the third time in program history while sitting atop the GPAC with a 13-1 conference record.
DWU Softball will be back in action for the final two days of regular season home competition later in the week. See the full 2026 schedule here.