Come-from-behind wins haven't been very necessary for the University of Jamestown softball team this season.
With an average margin of victory of four runs per game, the Jimmies were almost always ahead from start to finish.
That was not the case on Friday, but the Jimmies still managed to win both of their games at the opening day of the North Star Athletic Association tournament in Madison, S.D.
After rallying to beat Dakota State in the morning, the top-seeded Jimmies made it really interesting in their second game.
Down 4-0 heading into their final at bat, the Jimmies scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game before winning it in the bottom of the eighth, 5-4 over Presentation College.
Tylynn McKeever had a two-run single to cut the deficit to 4-2. After Sydney Jeffers singled home Sydney Greenlund. Up next was Rylee Perez, who also singled to bring home Emma Keller to tie it.
Brittany Rheault (18-4) retired the Saints 1-2-3 in the seventh, then the Jimmies ended it quickly.
Jessica Snow and Autumn Wang singled. After a bunt and walk, Snow scored the game-winner on a passed ball.
The Jimmies, outhit 8-7 in the game, had been 4-0 against the Saints in the regular season, outscoring Presentation 43-1 in the process.
The Jimmies (35-12) play Valley City State in a winner's-bracket game today at 1 p.m.
UJ 10, DaSU 5
The first of the Jimmies' two comebacks on the day wasn't quite as dramatic.
Down 5-1 after three innings, the Jimmies scored nine runs in their final three at bats, including a five-run bottom of the fourth.
Jeffers and Snow were each 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Greenlund had two hits, including a run-scoring double. Wang plated a run in the fifth with a triple.
Rheault stabilized the game in the circle. The freshman from West Fargo fired four scoreless innings of relief.
NSAA Tournament
At Madison, S.D.
First round
University of Jamestown 10, Dakota State 5
DaSU 041 000 0 -- 5 11 3
UJ 001 522 x -- 10 13 0
Ellie Kristensen, Shai-Lee Hill (4) and Elizabeth Rubalcava. Hanna Dunnigan, Emma Keller (2), Brittany Rheault (4) and Sydney Greenlund. W--Rheault (17-4)/ L--Kristensen. 2B--DaSU, Elizabeth Rubalcava, Lynnie Angle. UJ, Sydney Greenlund, Jessica Snow. 3B--UJ, Autumn Wang. HR--DaSU, Harley Lindell. DaSU, Eric Belter.
Winner's bracket
Jamestown 5, Presentation College 4, 8 Innings
DaSU 001 102 00 -- 4 8 4
UJ 000 000 41 -- 5 7 2
Kayla Reynolds, Megan Mendonca (7) and Jacque Trost. Hanna Dunnigan, Brittany Rheault (5) and Greenlund. W--Rheault (18-4). L--Mendonca. 3B--PC, Shelby Anderson. SB--PC, Brenda Botzenhart 2, Kassidy Rauch, Hailey Haukeli, Lauren Zapata.
Courtesy of Jamestown Sun sports editor Dave Selvig, 5/2/15
