SIOUX FALLS , S.D. (KELO.com) — When presented with opportunity, the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (15-16, 9-8 NSIC) delivered as freshman pitcher Hanna Cress threw a gem in the circle and freshman catcher Damaris Cuevas hit a two-run home run to provide the difference on offense as the Cougars recorded a 2-1 city rivalry win over No. 1 Augustana (28-4, 16-2 NSIC) in game two of an NSIC doubleheader at Sherman Park on Thursday.
With the game two victory, the Cougars won their third game in the last four played and nearly won the opener over the Vikings, falling 4-3 in extra innings (nine innings). It was a special day for the USF team, which battled and met the challenge of meeting and defeating a team ranked No. 1 in NCAA DII. USF also ended a four-game losing streak to the Vikings.
The pride of her team beamed through post-game comments by USF’s third-year head coach Shannon Pivovar.
“This team is special. I am so proud of everyone’s effort today. We played 16 innings of ‘really good’ softball against a ‘really good” Augustana team. We approached every at bat and every pitch with a focused intent and celebrated every little thing,” said Pivovar, whose team will continue a 10-game home stand by hosting U-Mary in an NSIC doubleheader on Saturday and Minot State on Sunday at Sherman Park.
According to Pivovar, the contributions in the circle were matched by those by her team at the plate, on defense and from the bench.
“Kait (Van Der Zwaag) and Hanna (Cress) were fantastic on the mound. Emmie (Uitts) called a heck of a game as well. Our defense was sound behind them and again, that held us in the ball game,” said Pivovar of the sixth-ranked defensive unit in the NSIC. “I thought the kids did a great job of adjusting to the different pitching we saw throughout the doubleheader. How fun for Damaris (Cuevas) to knock that ball out of the park in game two. I am so proud of my team today. It was a fun day of softball and it is a heck of a day to be a Cougar,” she said.
To Pivovar’s point, Cuevas hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the fourth inning and from there Cress dominated, allowing just one hit over the final two innings. She retired six of the final seven batters she faced as the Cougars ended the 14-game winning streak for Augustana. It was the first time in the DII era that USF has defeated a No. 1 team.
On the day, senior outfielder Rachel Klassen led USF with five hits in eight at bats for a .625 average. She had seven total bases and was busy in the field with seven put outs. Cuevas hit .500 in the doubleheader with three hits in six at bats and had a 1.000 slugging mark. Overall, USF had 16 hits, three extra base hits (home runs by Cuevas, Cassie Van Beek and a triple by Klassen), and did not commit an error. With two hits in game one, senior centerfielder Frankie Mickelson moved into a tie for fifth place in career hits all-time at USF with 144 (Kerrigan Hoshaw, 2016-19). In the circle, Cress figured in decisions in both games as she was 1-1 on the day with a 1.56 earned run average and allowed two earned runs in nine innings with six strikeouts. Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag had a 3.00 earned run average as she allowed three earned runs with four strikeouts. Combined, the two USF pitchers had a 2.19 earned run average with 10 strikeouts and three walks.
Game 1 – No. 1 Augustana 4 Sioux Falls 3 (9 innings)
Despite three hits from Rachel Klassen and two hits and three RBI by Cassie Van Beek plus a solid game in the circle from Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag, USF dropped a 4-3 decision in extra innings (nine innings) to top-ranked Augustana in the opener.
After Augustana grabbed a 2-0 run lead, the Cougars answered when \ Van Beek belted her third home run of the season to slice the lead in half.
After the Vikings added a run in the top of the seventh inning for a 3-1 edge, the Cougars answered again behind the bat of Van Beek. After Klassen had her third hit of the game and Kennedy Thomas walked (replaced by pinch runner Peyton Senger), Mika Rodriguez moved the runners on a sacrifice. From there, Van Beek delivered her hit which scored two and forced extra innings with the scored deadlocked at 3-3. The Vikings a one run in the ninth inning and then held off a late USF threat to earn the win.
In her 15th start of the season, Van Der Zwaag worked seven innings and allowed three runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts. She walked just one hitter. Hanna Cress (6-8) took over in the eighth inning and worked two innings, allowing one run, one hit with a strikeout and walk.
On offense, Klassen led USF with three hits in four at bats and score a run. Van Beek had two hits, a run scored and three RBI while Frankie Mickelson collected two hits as USF had 10 for the game.
Amber Elliott (15-1) earned the win in relief as she allowed three hits and two runs with a strikeout in three innings. Ashley Mickschl worked the first six innings for Augustana and allowed eight hits and a run while striking out three.
Game 2 – USF 2 No. 1 Augustana 1
In earning the win over top-ranked Augustana in game two, USF used the stellar work in the circle by Hanna Cress (7-8) who won her seventh game this season, and the clutch hitting of Damaris Cuevas.
Cress scattered nine hits across seven innings but allowed just one earned run. She had five strikeouts and walked just one hitter in throwing her eighth complete game in 13 starts. She also increased her season total to 87 strikeouts on the year. The biggest challenge for Cress was in the fifth when the Vikings loaded the bases. However, she forced Delaney Young to fly out to Klassen in left field.
As for Cuevas, she had two hits in game two with her second home run of the season in the fourth inning. As a result, she raised her batting average to .462 and now has 16 RBI and a slugging mark of .641. Klassen also had two hits in game two while Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag had a hit and run scored.
Amber Elliott (15-2) took the loss for Augustana as she allowed four hits and two runs with a strikeout. Olivia Hazelbaker finished with two innings of one-hit relief for the Vikings
