SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Juniors Kieya Belmont and Karina Cupples had four hits each as The Briar Cliff University softball team (6-12 GPAC, 18-21) lost 11-7 and 8-3 to Doane (10-10 GPAC, 17-21), Wednesday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Field.
Game – 1
This was a back-and-forth battle. Heading into the bottom of the third inning, Briar Cliff trailed 7-4.
Junior Kylie Wilhelms and freshman Jalyn Yakey led off with singles. Sophomore Sydney Ebel came in to run for Wilhelms. Junior Rylee Cain laid down a perfect bunt that scored Ebel and moved Yakey to third. Cupples singled to load the bases.
Following an out, junior Karis Gifford singled up the middle to score Yakey and Cain and make it 7-7.
The Tigers scored four runs over the next two innings to seal the game.
For Briar Cliff, Cupples had two hits while Gifford and senior Kylee Lukes had two hits and drove in two runs each. Freshman Joliana Mancha (3-4) gave up eight hits, five runs, walked one and struck out one in 5.7 innings.
For Doane, Faith Molina had three hits. Molina (11-7) gave up six hits, one run and struck out nine in five innings.
Game – 2
The Tigers drew first blood scoring a run in the second inning. In the bottom half of the inning, freshman Skylar Bainter singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.
A single by Cupples had runners at the corners. Belmont singled to score Bainter and moved Cupples to second.
Cupples stole third with Belmont moving to second on the throw down. Gifford ripped a single up the middle to clear the bases making it 3-1, BCU.
The Tigers scored twice in the fifth inning to make it 3-3. In the fifth and sixth innings, Briar Cliff had a runner on but were unable to bring them in.
Doane scored five runs in the seventh to steal the game.
For Briar Cliff, Belmont had three hits and Cupples had two hits. Junior Georgia Krohn (9-7) gave up eight hits, eight runs with seven earned, walked four and struck out two in seven innings.
For Doane, Sarah Shevenell (5-5) gave up nine hits, three runs, walked four and struck out four in seven innings.
Briar Cliff closes the home season, Thursday, Apr. 25 against Northwestern. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.
