FREMONT, Neb. — Dakota Wesleyan Softball faced the hosting and top-seeded Midland Warriors in a win-or-go-home contest in the GPAC Championship Tournament.
The elimination game would see the ace pitchers for both squads go at it, putting up complete-game efforts in the circle. Alison Ernsberger would record four total strikeouts during the contest and would be matched in the beginning innings in pace, as Midland’s ace would go on to tally 14 of her own, putting runs more at a premium for both sides.
The first two innings remained scoreless, but Midland would be the first team to strike, posting two runs in the bottom of the third on a pair of knocks to take an initial 2-0 advantage before adding to the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Two doubles in the bottom of the fourth combined for three RBIs in favor of the Warriors, bringing the score to 5-0.
Ernsberger was able to settle back in during the fifth and sixth innings, aided by a handful of impressive defensive plays, but the initial surge forced DWU to work from behind. Dakota Wesleyan got on the board in the top of the fifth, as a hit from Macy Moore to left field would get Kassidy Lopez across home plate.
The final rally for the Tigers at the top of the seventh included Liliana Arreola singling to center field to bring home Lydia Yost alongside Lopez, bringing the Tigers within two runs with the winning run at the plate towards the end of the game, but a strikeout would end the contest in favor of the Warriors, 5-3. Arreola led the team with two RBIs and would record one of the team’s three hits during the game alongside Ciurca and Moore.
Dakota Wesleyan Softball will have an outside chance at being an at-large selection for the 2026 NAIA Championships, but awaits the official selection show before knowing if the season will continue. As it stands, the team’s 35 single-season wins sit first in program history, but DWU hopes to be able to add more to that number in light of a potential national tournament bid.
The NAIA Softball National Championship Selection Show will take place on Wednesday, May 6th, at 5:00 PM CST.