Doane dropped a pair of games to Nebraska Wesleyan and saw their postseason hope fall to the waist side as Briar Cliff swept Morningside to knock the Tigers out of the GPAC tournament by one game. Doane lost 3-2 and 14-7 to the Prairie Wolves.
Game One: L 2-3
The Tigers committed one error but it led to a pair of unearned runs as Nebraska Wesleyan rallied to take game one.
Doane put two runs on the board in the first inning as the first four batters reached base. Mike Mendenhall doubled to start the game and Josh Reed followed with a walk. Blake Snow singled to left to bring Mendenhall around for the first run of the game. Anthony Hincy picked up an infield single to load the bases for Mike Albert.
Nebraska Wesleyan was able to turn a ground ball from Albert into a double play to cut the Tiger's threat short. Reed scored on the play but Doane's momentum was haulted.
In the fourth, NWU came up with two runs on two hits. They took advantage of a throwing error by Anthony Dunn with two outs to put runners at second and third base. The next batter doubled down the left field line to tie the game.
The Prairie Wolves took the lead in the sixth with a run following two singles and a stolen base.
Doane was sent down in order in the seventh.
For the game, Chance Brull threw six innings for the Tigers, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. Brull took the loss.
At the plate, Mendenhall and Snow each went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Game Two: L 7-14
Doane jumped on the board early but were unable to hold off Nebraska Wesleyan in the final game of conference play.
Mike Mendenhall scored the first run of the game as he came in on a sacrifice fly by Blake Snow. Josh Reed, who singled after Mendenhall walked, came in to score on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the first, NWU scored three runs off of starter Evan Koetter to take a 3-2 lead.
Doane came back in the second inning with four runs. Anthony Dunn led off with a double and scored on a single by Luke Henderson. Josh Milz entered as a courtesy runner for Henderson. Jason West walked and moved to second on a groundout by Mendenhall as Milz moved to third.
Reed came to the plate and in the pitch sequence Milz scored on a wild pitch as the Tigers took the lead. Reed then singled and plated West to give Doane a two-run lead. Snow reached on an error and Anthony Hincy walked to give the Tigers the bases loaded with two outs in the inning. After a pitching change, Mike Albert drew a walk to bring in Reed as the Tigers took a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the third, NWU plated five runs on five hits, keyed by a three-run double as the Prairie Wolves took an 8-6 lead.
Nebraska Wesleyan opened up the game with another five run inning, this time in the fifth. They used four hits and a Tiger error to take a 13-6 lead.
Doane scored a run in the sixth as Mendenhall led off the inning with a single. He moved up two bases on a wild pitch. Snow singled with one out in the inning to bring in the final Tiger run.
The Prairie Wolves added a run in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead, 14-7.
Evan Koetter took the loss for Doane, allowing eight runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings. Ryan Otto allowed five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings. Jordan Harrison allowed one unearned run in 1.2 innings of work.
At the plate, Reed went 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. Henderson went 3-for-3 with a RBI. Dunn was 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Tigers.