March 21, 2015
FOREST CITY, Iowa – The Dakota State University (S.D.) softball team continued their road stretch Saturday afternoon, visiting future member of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference member Waldorf (Iowa) at Forest City High School Softball Field. The Warriors won the first game by the score of 11-3 in five innings and held off Trojans' late comeback in the second game 8-7 to complete a non-conference doubleheader sweep.
Dakota State lost their ninth straight game (0-9 overall record). Waldorf improved their overall record to 8-12.
Game 1 – Waldorf (Iowa) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL/5 innings
The Trojans earned the first lead of the game in the opening inning. Erica Belter reached on base caused by WC's defensive error and advanced to second on the same play. Sara Erickson recorded a sacrifice to advance Belter to third base. After Elizabeth Rubalcava reached on base by a walk, Brittany Hill smashed an RBI double to score Belter for DSU's 1-0 lead.
The Warriors answered back with one run scored in the bottom first frame. Carla Smith hit an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
DSU regained their lead with a run scored in the top second inning. Lexy Miller hit a single and advanced to second base after WC"s passed ball. Belter recorded a sacrifice to advance Miller to third base. Erickson produced an RBI single to score Miller as the Trojans grabbed a 2-1 lead.
Waldorf exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the second inning. The Warriors collected five hits in the inning, overtaking a 5-2 lead from the Trojans.
Hill blasted a solo home run to lead off the top third inning, reducing DSU's deficit to 5-3. She extended the DSU school record career home run to 16 home runs.
WC scored three more runs in the bottom third inning to extend their lead to 8-3.
Waldorf produced another 3-run inning in the fourth inning for an 11-3 lead, highlighted by Jessica Abrahamson's 2-run home run.
Dakota State was unable to extend the game in the fifth inning as they left two runners on base, securing the victory for the Warriors.
Hill was 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, double and produced two RBIs for the Trojans. Erickson added two singles and an RBI. Harley Lindell and Miller each added a single. Belter swiped one base.
Hattie Hupke and Abrahamson each tallied three hits for the Warriors. Smith and Maggie Hawley each added two hits. Hupke, Andrea Hartmann, Smith, Abrahamson and Hawley each collected two RBIs.
WC outhit DSU 13-6 in the game. The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the Warriors seven runners left on base.
Ellie Kristensen (0-5) took the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed 11 runs (2 unearned) on 13 hits. Guadalupe Gomez threw 1/3 innings in relief.
Briley Sullivan started the game for WC. She worked the first two innings and gave up three runs (two unearned) on four hits. Hawley (3-4) recorded the victory as she threw three innings in relief, limiting DSU to two hits.
Game 2 – Waldorf (Iowa) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 7 – FINAL
Trailing 8-3 heading in the top fifth inning, the Trojans mounted a comeback in the fifth and sixth innings but it was not enough as the Warriors held on to an 8-7 game two victory.
The Warriors jumped to a 3-0 lead in the bottom second inning, thanks to Courtney Palmer's 2-RBI double.
Waldorf made it 4-0 in the third inning after the Trojans committed a defensive error.
Dakota State snapped their scoring drought after putting together a 3-run offensive outburst in the fourth inning. Rubalcava led off with a single. Hill added a double to advance Rubalcava to third base. Ariana Duran ripped a 2-RBI double to score Rubalcava and Hill to cut Warriors' lead to 4-2. Lynnie Angle hit a single, allowing Duran to score as the Trojans trailed by one run at 4-3.
WC extended their lead to 8-3 after scoring four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning.
After recording the first two outs of the fifth inning, Dakota State pounded with three consecutive hits. Erickson hit a double. Rubalcava added a single to advance Erickson to third base. Hill collected an RBI single to score Erickson, trimming Waldorf's lead to 8-4.
The Trojans mounted a rally in the top sixth inning, putting together another 3-run outburst. Angle hit a single with one out. Kristensen added another single to advance Angle to third base. Shai-Lee Hill, pinch hitter for Belter, blasted a 3-run home run as the Trojans trailed by one run at 8-7. It was her first career home run at Dakota State.
DSU was unable to complete a comeback as the Warriors secured the game in the final inning after Lindell was caught stealing going to second base.
Rubalcava and Brittany Hill each tallied three hits for the Trojans. Erickson and Duran each added a double. Shai-Lee Hill produced three RBIs. Duran added two RBIs. Angle recorded two singles. Kristensen and Miller each had a single. Miller swiped one base.
Abrahamson had two singles for the Warriors. Hupke, Palmer, Danyielle Barger, Smith and Kaitlin Muphy each had a hit. Palmer and Smith each had two RBIs.
Dakota State outhit Waldorf 13-7. WC left eight runners on base compared to DSU four runners left on base.
Gomez (0-1) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for the Trojans. She pitched two innings and allowed four runs (one unearned) on four hits. Kristensen came in relief and threw four innings, giving up four runs (three unearned) on three hits.
Kaylie Brindley (4-3) earned the victory for the Warriors. She pitched four innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on five hits. Hawley worked the final three innings in relief, yielding the Trojans to four runs on eight hits.
Dakota State attempts to end their losing skid as they continue their action on the road Thursday afternoon, visiting Dordt (Iowa) in a doubleheader action. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Open Space Park on the campus of Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
