Record 5–3 as team heads to Tucson, Ariz., for spring break road trip
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 11:30 p.m. | Irish Sports Dome, Rosemount, Minn.
DCTC 0
St. Olaf 9
Against St. Olaf College, the Knights ran into a buzz saw early, falling behind nine zip in the first, but standing tough defensively for the rest of the game.
“After beating Carleton earlier in the week, it was disappointing to come out and give up all nine runs in the first inning,” said Head Coach Aaron Vail. “However, we did start six different position players than usual to give our other players some in game experience. The positives of the game far outweighed the negatives.”
The lone offensive highlight was a lead-off single in the first inning by sophomore pitcher Tara Kimberly, who threw five innings, giving up only three earned runs while striking out one and walking three.
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2010 Yellowjacket Classic
Saturday, March 6, 2010, 11:30 p.m. | Regional Stadium, RCTC Campus, Rochester, Minn.
DCTC 8
Central Lakes CC 3
The Knights came out swinging, knocking in six runs in the second. The team had 12 hits total in the 8–3 victory over the Central Lakes Community College Raiders.
“This was a fantastic win for us,” Vail said. “Beating the preseason #6 ranked Division III JUCO team, especially after a tough loss against St. Olaf, was a great way for us to start the weekend. We hit the ball, played good defense and got some great pitching to dominate all three facets of the game.”
Highlights
- Maria Leidner, ss: 3 hits, 2 RBI
- Michelle Hinz, 3b: 2 hits, including third-inning home run, 2 runs
- Ranae Fasig, 2b: 2 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 run
- Amanda Olson, cf: 2 hits, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
Tara Kimberly threw seven innings, scattering six hits while giving up two earned runs. She struck out seven batters and walked none.
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Saturday, March 6, 2010, 2:30 p.m. | Regional Stadium, RCTC Campus, Rochester, Minn.
DCTC 7
Ellsworth CC 6
Seven was the magic number in the Knights 7–6 victory over the Ellsworth Community College Panthers. The team scored all seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the seventh inning for a dramatic come-back win.
“This was, without question, the most amazing and emotional come from behind victory that I have ever been a part of as either a player or a coach,” said Vail. “To be down six runs going into the bottom of the seventh and to come out with a victory was incredible. Beating an NJCAA Division II program gave the girls confidence to know that we can play with anybody on our schedule by beating.”
Highlights
- Michelle Hinz, 3b: 2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 run
- Maria Leidner, ss: 1 hit, including game-winning 2-RBI single
Tara Kimberly hurled seven innings, giving up three earned runs on 13 hits. She fanned six and walked none.
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Saturday, March 6, 2010, 4 p.m. | Regional Stadium, RCTC Campus, Rochester, Minn.
DCTC 11
Vermillion CC 0
The Knights kept right on swinging against the Ironwomen of Vermillion Community College, blasting in 11 runs on 15 hits. Defense also stepped up with a zero-error game. Tara Kimberly pitched a one-hit shutout, the first shutout of her career.
“Coming off the most emotional win of my career, I knew that I had to get the team ready to play in fifteen minutes against a team that had been struggling all weekend,” said Vail. “This could have been the perfect ‘trap’ game. When we won the coin toss, I elected to hit first, knowing we wanted to keep our momentum going. After we put up four runs in the first inning and three in the second, I knew our girls had this one locked up. We had an offensive explosion in this game and Tara threw her first career shutout with a one-hitter. This capped a great day with three wins and no losses.”
Highlights
- Season-high 15-hit game as a team
- Maria Leidner, ss: 3 for 3, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs
- Tara Kimberly, p: 3 for 3, HR, 1 RBI, 2 runs
- Michelle Hinz, 3b: 3 for 4, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs
- Nichole Wagner, dh: 2 hits, 2 RBIs
- Cynthia Halpaus, cf: 2 hits
Kimberly pitched five innings with five KOs and two walks.
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Sunday, March 7, 2010, 10 a.m. | Regional Stadium, RCTC Campus, Rochester, Minn.
DCTC 9
Anoka Ramsey CC 0
Tara Kimberly put together another strong performance, shutting down the Golden Rams of Anoka Ramsey Community College, mowing down 10 batters via strikeout. Maria Leidner and Michelle Hinz continued hitting hot, spearheading an offense that drove in nine runs, five earned.
“We were playing another first-year program and didn’t know what to expect,” said Coach Vail. “We were a little sluggish to start on a Sunday morning after a busy Saturday. We put up seven runs in the last three innings to put the game away. Our hitters combined for thirteen hits and Tara Kimberly turned in another shoutout, allowing only four hits while striking out ten.”
Highlights
- Maria Leidner, ss: 3 for 4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, SB
- Michelle Hinz, 3b: 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run
- Rachel Sydow, 1b, rf: 2 for 4, 2B, 1 run
- Kassie Young, cf: (first game of the year) 2 for 3, 2 RBIs, 1 run
Kimberly pitched a seven-inning shutout with 10 strikeouts, giving up four hits and one walk.
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Sunday, March 7, 2010, 11:30 a.m. | Regional Stadium, RCTC Campus, Rochester, Minn.
DCTC 2
RCTC 5
Both teams fought evenly until the bottom of the sixth when the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets stung the Knights for three runs to win the game 5–2.
“This was a fantastic ballgame,” Vail said. “They put two great swings on two great pitches in the bottom of the sixth inning and they earned the victory today. We jumped on them in the first inning for two runs, outhit them in the game with seven singles, but we also left six runners on base and couldn’t string together enough offense to put it away early. Tara Kimberly battled through the game and kept us right where we needed to be. But to beat good teams, we need to score more than two runs. We look forward to playing RCTC again in a week in Tucson, Arizona, during our spring road trip.”
Highlights
- Maria Leidner, ss: 2 for 3
- Ranae Fasig, 2b: 2 for 4, 1 run
- Michelle Hinz, 3b, Kassie Young, ph, and Ashlee Hunt, c, all had 1 hit
Kimberly threw for six innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked one.
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Maria Leidner, 3, Shortstop
Tara Kimberly, 9, pitcher
Michelle Hinz, 5, 3rd base
