Mach 26, 2015

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dordt (Iowa) shut down Dakota State (S.D.) 8-0 in five innings in the first game of the softball doubleheader at Open Space Park.  Trailing 15-0 in the nightcap, the Trojans stormed back with a huge offensive outburst in the fourth inning, but the Defenders closed the game with a 22-14 win in six innings to complete a doubleheader sweep.

Dakota State is 0-11 overall record.  Dordt, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), improved to 7-15 overall record.

Game 1 – Dordt (Iowa) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/5 innings

Dakota State couldn't get their scoring chances in the opening inning after Erica Belter and Sara Erickson hit back-to-back singles to start the game.  After Dordt recorded a double play, Brittany Hill hit a single and advanced Erickson to third base.  The Trojans left two runners on base as the top first inning ended (DSU had three hits in the opening inning).

The Defenders exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the first inning for a 4-0 lead, with three runs coming off a pair of DSU's defensive error.  Michal Hoogland also added an RBI single in the bottom first.

DSU left three runners on base in the top second inning and could not able to score a run.

Dordt added two more runs in the bottom second frame.  Kassidy VanVoorst reached on base by a walk with one out.  She swiped to second base and then to third base.  Jordan Harmelink hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score VanVoorst to give DC a 3-0 lead.  The Defenders made it 4-0 after Ashton Beaird hit a solo home run.

Jordan Harmelink produced a 2-RBI single in the bottom fourth inning as Dordt's lead grew to 8-0.

Dakota State was unable to extend the game into the bottom fifth inning as they left two runners on base when the game ended.

Hill and Ariana Duran each had two singles for the Trojans.  Belter, Erickson and Lynnie Angle each added a single.  Belter recorded two walks.

Harmelink was 1-for-2 at the plate with three RBIs for the Defenders.  Hoogland added two singles and an RBI.  Beaird had a home run and an RBI.  Andrea Pierce recorded a single.  VanVoorst swiped three bases and recorded three walks.

DSU outhit DC 7-5 in the game.  The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the Defenders four runners left on base.

Ellie Kristensen (0-6) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  She tossed four innings and gave up eight runs (four unearned) on five hits.

Samantha Dunn (2-7) picked up the victory for Dordt.  She worked for four innings and allowed six hits.  Sidney Larsen pitched a scoreless fifth inning, giving up a hit.

Game 2 – Dordt (Iowa) 22, Dakota State (S.D.) 14 – FINAL/6 innings

The Defenders used another fast start in the second game of the doubleheader, racing to a 15-0 lead.  The Trojans roared back with 12 runs scored in the top fourth inning, but DC outscored DSU 7-2 to earn a 22-14 high scoring affair in the nightcap.

Dordt plated five runs in the bottom first inning to grab a 5-0 lead.  The Defenders had two hits in the innings, while DSU committed two defensive errors.

DC added a run in the bottom second frame to extend their lead to 6-0.

The Defenders exploded for nine runs in the third inning, propelling to a 15-0 lead.  DC had 10 hits in the inning, including three home runs and three doubles.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought by blasting a total of 12 runs in the top fourth inning, trimming Dordt's lead to 15-12.  The Trojans produced eight hits in the inning while the Defenders committed five defensive miscues.

DC made it 17-12 after scoring twice in the bottom fourth inning.  The Defenders scored twice again in the fifth inning to expand their lead to 19-12.

Duran hit a solo home run to led off the top sixth inning, reducing DSU's deficit to 19-13.  The Trojans added a run caused by DC's defensive error to trim Defenders' lead to 19-14.

The Defenders scored three times in the bottom sixth inning, ending the game with two outs.  Harmelink hit a 2-RBI single as Dordt secured the game.

The game saw a total of 36 runs, 33 hits and 11 defensive errors combined by both teams.

Duran was 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, single and recorded three RBIs for the Trojans.  Erickson and Hill each added two singles.  Belter, Kristensen, Angle and Lexy Miller each recorded a hit.  Ten different Trojans had scored at least a run in the game (Hill, Harley Lindell, Duran and Miller each scored twice). 

Rubalcava, Kristensen and Miller each produced two RBIs for DSU. 

Summer Jansen was perfect at the plate, going 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two singles and recorded three RBIs for the Defenders.  Bearid added four hits and two RBIs.  Harmelink had two hits and six RBIs.  Googland had a home run and three RBIs.  Pierce recorded three hits.  VanVoorst collected a hit, three walks and recorded three stolen bases.  White had a home run, double and three RBIs.

DC outhit DSU 21-12 in the game.  The Defenders committed seven defensive errors compared to the Trojans four defensive errors.

Dordt left eight runners on base.  Dakota State had six runners left on base.

Shai-Lee Hill (0-3) recorded the loss for the Trojans.  She pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up 14 runs (6 unearned) on 11 hits.  Kristensen tossed 3 1/3 innings in relief and allowed eight runs on 10 hits.

Amanda Malinowski (5-2) earned the victory after pitching 3 1/3 innings for the Defenders.  She gave up 10 runs (5 unearned) on six hits.  Larsen worked for 2 2/3 innings in relief and allowed four runs (one unearned) on six hits.  She recorded five strikeouts.

Dakota State is attempting to earn their first victory of the season as they head to Sioux City, Iowa this weekend to compete in the two-day Morningside (Iowa) Softball Tournament (four total games against the GPAC members).  The Trojans face the host-team Morningside at 11 a.m. and Briar Cliff (Iowa) at 1 p.m. on Saturday.  DSU will play Morningside again on Sunday at 12 p.m. and will conclude the tournament with a game versus Hastings (Neb.) at 2 p.m.  All games will be held at SYA Complex.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director