March 18, 2015
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) and Briar Cliff (Iowa) battled through a pitcher's duel in the first game of the softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Field. The Trojans rallied back to tie the game at 2-2 after Brittany Hill's solo home run in the top seventh inning, but the Chargers secured the victory 3-2 after Brooke Lyman's game-winning RBI. BCU shut down DSU 8-0 in the second game to complete a doubleheader sweep.
Dakota State is 0-7 overall record after the doubleheader. Briar Cliff, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, improved to 8-4 overall record.
Game 1 – Briar Cliff (Iowa) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
The game went scoreless through the first three-and-half innings before the Chargers scored the first run of the game in the bottom fourth.
Amy Anderson led off the bottom fourth frame with a single and advanced to second base for Briar Cliff. Ashley Del Alto was out at first base and advanced Katin Romero, pinch runner for Anderson, to third base. Jessica Bastian recorded an RBI sacrifice fly out to score Romero to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead.
Lyman hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom fifth inning to extend BCU's lead to 2-0.
Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with a run scored in the top sixth inning. Lynnie Angle kicked off with a double for the Trojans. With two outs, Erica Belter and Sara Erickson recorded back-to-back walks to set up a bases loaded situation for DSU (Haley Hansen – pinch runner for Angle – advanced to third base). Hansen scored caused by BCU's defensive error as the Trojans trailed at 2-1.
Hill blasted a solo home run to led off the top seventh inning for Dakota State, tying the game at 2-2. She extended her DSU school record for most career home runs with 15.
The Chargers answered back with a run scored in the bottom seventh frame, sealing the victory. Katlin Briley started with a walk. She advanced to third base after Danielle Ishil hit a ground out. Lyman produced a game-winning RBI single to score Briley, earning a 3-2 victory for BCU.
Hill had a home run and an RBI for the Trojans. Angle had a double. Hansen added a hit. Belter and Erickson each had a walk.
Lyman was 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, two singles and two RBIs for the Chargers. Deanna Ayala added two singles. Anderson and Abby Thomsen each had a hit.
BCU outhit DSU 7-3 in the game. The Chargers left seven runners on base compared to the Trojans three runners left on base.
Ellie Kristensen (0-4) took the loss on the pitching mound for Dakota State. She pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Kristensen struck out five BCU's batters.
Hannah Hustad started the game for Briar Cliff, pitching for six innings. She gave up one run on one hit. Ciara Dotzler earned the victory in relief as she pitched the seventh inning, allowing a run on two hits.
Game 2 – Briar Cliff (Iowa) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/5 innings
Briar Cliff shut down Dakota State in the second game of the doubleheader. The Chargers jumped to an 8-0 lead through the first three innings and never looked back.
The Chargers opened up with a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Lyman's RBI single.
BCU added three runs in the bottom second inning, extending their lead to 4-0.
Briar Cliff made it 8-0 with four runs scored in the third inning, highlighted by Bailee Meyer's 3-run home run.
Dakota State was unable to come up with a hit in the game. Harley Lindell had a walk for the Trojans.
Meyer was 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and produced four RBIs for the Chargers. Briley added a triple, single and an RBI. Thomsen had a double. Ishil and Lyman each had a hit and an RBI. Anderson recorded a single.
BCU had eight hits in the game. The Chargers left three runners on base. DSU had one runner left on base.
Shai-Lee Hill (0-2) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for Dakota State. She pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits. Guadalupe Gomez came in for 1 2/3 innings of relief, shutting down the Chargers.
Dotzler (6-1) threw a complete game victory for Briar Cliff.
Both teams will meet again in the Morningside (Iowa) Softball Tournament on March 28 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Dakota State looks to snap their losing skid Saturday afternoon as they continue their action on the road. The Trojans visit Waldorf (Iowa) – a future member of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) – in a non-conference doubleheader. The first meeting between DSU and WC will take place at Forest City High School Softball Field in Forest City, Iowa. First game is slated to start at 3 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
