TUCSON, Ariz. – The Dickinson State softball team started their annual spring break trip with two wins against Brevard College and Siena Heights from the Tucson Invitational Games in Tucson. With the day one sweep, the Blue Hawks improve to 5-5 on the year.
Dickinson State University 6, Brevard College 5
The Blue Hawks got on the board early as Sonja Lawrence started things off with a double to center field and brought home on a Jaya Allen homerun in the next at-bat for the 2-0 lead after the first inning of play. The Tornadoes answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single to cut the lead back down to one. Neither side was able to plate a run in the second inning until the Blue Hawks extended their lead up to four (5-1) after plating three runs in the following two innings. Dickinson took advantage of a passed ball by Brevard's McCoy for their third run of the game and continued their offensive pressure in the top of the fourth with an Abi Brooks homerun and an Emilie Sickler single to left field to bring around Andrea Rodriguez. After an RBI double by the Brevard Tornadoes to cut the lead back down to three, the Blue Hawks tagged on a vital run in the top of the fifth inning off the bat of Brooks to score Claire Shoffit.
The Tornadoes started to stir things up in the final two innings as they poured in three runs to cut the deficit down to one. In the bottom of the seventh inning and a runner on third and first, Jaya Allen entered the game on the mound for starting pitcher Brooks to seal the victory. On a 1-2 count, Allen ended up popping out Brevard's Cook to seal the 6-5 win and earn her second save of the season.
Abi Brooks (2-1) earned her second win of her senior campaign as she lasted six and two-thirds innings, allowing ten hits and five runs (2ER) and walking one. The Blue Hawks connected for ten hits with Jaya Allen, Whitney Mesi and Abi Brooks leading the way with two hits apiece. The final four hits came from Rhea Pavia, Emilie Sickler, Sonja Lawrence and Andrea Rodriguez.
Dickinson State University 3, Siena Heights University 2
Despite being outhit 7-4 in the contest, the Blue Hawks captured an early lead and held on to complete their day two sweep at the TIG games. The Blue Hawks started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning as Abi Brooks hit into a fielder's choice to bring home Kayla Stephens for the 1-0 lead. Dickinson bumped their lead to three after back-to-back singles by Andrea Rodriguez and Rhea Pavia to score Stephens and Claire Shoffit in the fourth inning.
After two scoreless innings during the fifth and sixth, the Saints started their comeback in the final inning. SHU's Melmink started the inning with a leadoff single to left field and moved into scoring position after a double by Bianchi. On the next at-bat, Turk lined one to left field to score Melmink and advance Bianchi to third. The Saints cut the deficit down to one after Carlson singled on a 0-2 count to bring around Bianchi. However, on a 2-0 count, Dickinson's Jaya Allen got SHU's Hill to ground into a double play to end the inning and escape with the 3-2 win.
Rhea Pavia led the Blue Hawks at the plate going 2-for-3, while Emilie Sickler and Andrea Rodriguez wrapped up the final two hits. Jaya Allen (3-4) picked up her third win of the season after a seven hit, two run (2ER), and four-strikeout performance in seven innings of work.
