April 27, 2006

By Leslie Rasmussen, Dana Sports Information (Edits by Dawn Harmon, NAIA)

Dana College (Neb.) softball joined an elite group April 26 night when the Vikings hit three home runs for a school-record season total 47 to contend for the NAIA national record of 48 home runs in a season.  Dana swept Nebraska Wesleyan University, 4-0 and 11-1 (5 innings), in the evening's doubleheader.

Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) reached 48 home runs on March 30, breaking the old record of 45.  With conference tournaments approaching, both schools have a chance of owning the record.
 
All of Dana's runs in the first game came off home run hits.  Right fielder Marisa Bretschneider (Norfolk, Neb.) led off the third inning with a home run.  Pitcher Josie Barrow (Woodward, Iowa) followed up in the fifth with a three-run homer.

Barrow's complete game one-hitter is her 12th victory on the mound this season.
 
In game two, Viking hurler Mindy Schoop (Johnston, Iowa) threw seven strikeouts for the win in five innings.  Schoop gave up two hits and one earned run.
 
Barrow ignited the Viking bats with a double on her first at-bat.  The double scored one run.  First baseman Sarah Sempek (Omaha, Neb.) doubled to score Barrow.  Then left fielder Janez Anderson (Albion, Neb.) doubled to score Barrow's runner Jamie Snyder (Alta, Iowa).  The Vikings took a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Dana more than doubled their lead in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs on five hits. Barrow homered again, driving in two runs.  Shortstop Heather Parsons (Ottumwa, Iowa) hit a triple.  Morgan Shields (Britt, Iowa) and Maggie Downs (St. Charles, Iowa) each hit a double.
 
The Vikings improve to 34-7 overall and 18-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  Dana remains the GPAC leader--a title it has not relinquished all season.