MITCHELL, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan Softball hosted the 24th-ranked Midland Warriors as a part of the program's senior day, also marking the final home series of the regular season for DWU.
The Tigers and Warriors opened game one with both starting pitchers taking the spotlight, along with impressive defensive efforts across the board. In the circle for DWU was the three-time reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Week, Alison Ernsberger, and the sophomore from Granville, Ohio, would be up to the challenge against one of the country's top teams. She would record five strikeouts while only giving up one earned run against 29 faced batters, putting the Tigers in a prime position to capitalize on the offensive side of the contest. The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the second after a single from Avery Perkins brought home the game's opening score, but the Warriors were quick to respond in the top of the third, taking advantage of an error to get two runs across home plate, taking a 2-1 lead. Both teams scrapped through a scoreless fourth inning before the Tigers were able to tie the game back up in the bottom of the fifth inning following a clutch double from Elle Feser to get Alessandra Ciurca home, tying the contest at 2-2. Ernsberger was able to fight through a single in the sixth inning to keep the Tigers tied with Midland before Jordyn Blogg gave the Tigers the lead in the bottom of the frame by knocking a ball into right field to give Dusti Draper the green light to put a third run on the scoreboard. DWU's 3-2 lead received some extra insurance shortly after with a passed ball that gave the Tigers a 4-2 advantage. Ernsberger recorded one more strikeout in the top of the seventh to earn her 14th win of the season in the circle, knocking off the No. 24 Midland Warriors 4-2.
Midland would come to game two ready to play following the loss to DWU in game one, as the Warriors opened the game with a homer in the top of the first to put the Tigers down 2-0. Offensively, the Tigers would be nearly shutout by the opposing pitcher, recording one total hit on the day, coming from Ashlen Johnson. Mandalyn Nachtigall would grab three strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched as the starter, and Ivy Woolwine and Keirstyn Krcil made relief appearances to keep the Tiger defense stable, but a three-run home run shot in the top of the fifth would extend Midland's lead to 5-0. The Warriors added two more runs in the top of the seventh to set the final score to 7-0 in favor of Midland. The loss ended softball's program record consecutive wins with the final total coming in at 15, and while the Tigers dropped their second conference game of the season, they still sit at the top of the standings at 33-12 overall and 16-2 in GPAC play.
DWU Softball will be back in action on the road as the regular season wraps up against Dordt on Thursday, April 23rd, and Morningside on Saturday, April 25th. See the full 2026 schedule here.