The Tiger bats were ready to go on Sunday morning as they posted 14 runs on 14 hits to defeat the University of Sioux Falls, 14-2. Doane improved to 2-1 on the year after the non-conference victory. Doane scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to get the bats woken up on the early morning start. The Tigers went on to score in each inning they batted.
Mike Albert and Anthony Dunn hit back-to-back doubles to open the game and post the first run. Dunn scored on a passed ball after moving up on a ground out. Blake Snow walked and moved to third on a Tom Frinkman single.
With two outs in the first inning, Doane added five runs to their lead. AJ Spanel singled to plate Snow. Josh Reed tripled to plate two runs in Frinkman and Spanel. Reed then scored on a double by Dylan Flott.
The Tigers batted around in the first innings and Albert and Dunn picked up their second hits of the frame. Dunn's single plated Flott for the final run of the first inning.
In the top of the second inning, Sioux Falls plated two runs off of starter Ryan Otto. Doane came back in the bottom of the fram as Frinkman led off with a triple and came around to score on a ground out by Spanel.
Doane added three runs in the third. Flott led off with a single and scored on Albert's double. Albert stole third and scored on a pass ball. Jason West singled with two outs to score Frinkman who had reached on a fielder's choice.
In the fourth inning, Doane closed out the scoring with three more runs. Reed walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a single by Flott. Albert doubled to score Reed and to move Flott to third base. Flott scored on a passed ball and Albert scored on a ground out by Hincy.
Otto put the Cougars down in order in the top of the fifth inning to enforce the mercy rule and end the game. He finished the game allowing five hits and striking out five over five innings. He did not issue a walk in the game.
In each of the four innings in which Doane batted, the lead-off hitter reached either by a hit or a walk. Albert led the way in the game, going 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs. Flott went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Dunn and Frinkman went 2-for-3 apiece.