April 16, 2015
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their lead in a pair of non-conference softball action versus Dordt (Iowa) Thursday at Thue Softball Complex. The Trojans had a 2-0 lead in the first game, but the Defenders rallied back for a 4-2 victory. DSU overtook the lead in the bottom fourth inning in the nightcap before DC poured in eight runs in the fifth inning for a 13-6 win, completing a doubleheader sweep.
Dakota State dropped their overall record to 1-26. Dordt, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, improved their overall record to 17-21.
Game 1 – Dordt (Iowa) 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
The Trojans jumped to an early lead in the first inning with two runs scored. Erica Belter led off DSU with a walk. Sara Erickson hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Belter to second base. Elizabeth Rubalcava recorded a single as Belter advanced to third base. Brittany Hill smashed an RBI double to score Belter for 1-0 Trojans lead (Rubalcava advanced to third base).
Dakota State made it 2-0 in the bottom first frame after a wild pitch by Dordt's Samantha Dunn, allowing Rubalcava to score.
The Defenders earned their first run of the game in the top fourth inning. Dunn started with a single and swiped to second base, advancing to third base caused by DSU's defensive error. Erica White hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Dunn as DC trimmed DSU's lead to 2-1.
Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring chances as they left bases loaded in the bottom fifth inning.
Dunn hit an RBI single to score Kassidy VanVoorst, who recorded a single with one out and reached second base on a stolen base, as Dordt tied the game at 2-2 in the top sixth inning.
After recording the first two outs of the top seventh inning, DC recorded three consecutive hits and produced two runs to gain a two-run lead. Jordan Harmelink and Andrea Pierce hit back-to-back singles. VanVoorst hit an RBI double to score Harmelink. Pierce advanced to third base on the same play, then scored home after the Trojans committed a defensive miscue.
Dakota State's comeback in the bottom seventh inning fell short. With the bases loaded situation with one out, Lexy Miller hit an infield fly out and Rubalcava was tagged out at home on the same play as the Defenders secured a 4-2 victory.
Hill was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, three singles and an RBI for DSU. Rubalcava added two singles. Erickson, Ariana Duran and Lynnie Angle each had a hit. Belter, Erickson and Duran each reached on base by a walk.
VanVoorst had a double, single, stolen base and an RBI for DC. Dunn added two singles, stolen base and an RBI. Ashton Beaird, Summer Jansen, Harmelink and Pierce each had a hit.
Dakota State had nine hits in the game compared to Dordt eight hits. The Trojans left 10 runners on base while the Defenders had four runners left on base.
Ellie Kristensen (1-15) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for DSU, despite tossing a complete game. She allowed four runs (one unearned) on eight hits.
Dunn (4-8) earned a complete game pitching victory for DC. She gave up two runs on nine hits.
Game 2 – Dordt (Iowa) 13, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL
The Defenders got on board in the opening inning with a 2-0 lead, thanks to a pair of triples by VanVoorst and Beaird.
DSU scored once in the bottom second frame to reduce their deficit by one run. Hill led off the Trojans with a single. Duran hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Hill to second base. Miller was reached on base by a bunt single and advanced Hill to second base. Harley Lindell produced an RBI single to score Hill as DSU cut DC's lead to 2-1.
Dordt made it 3-1 in the top third inning after Michal Hoogland's RBI single to score Dunn (led off with a single and advanced to second base after Erica White's single).
Erickson blasted a triple with one out in the bottom third inning, followed by Rubalcava's RBI single to score Erickson as the Trojans trimmed Defenders' lead to 3-2.
Dakota State added two runs in the fourth inning to overtake the lead from Dordt. Miller kicked off the bottom fourth with a single. She advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by Angle. Lindell produced an RBI double to score Miller to knot the game at 3-3.
Erickson added an RBI single to score Lindell as DSU earned their first lead of the game at 4-3 in the bottom fourth.
Dordt exploded for eight runs in the top fifth inning to regain their lead at 11-4. The Defenders recorded five hits and reached on base by a walk three times.
The Trojans answered back with two runs in the bottom sixth inning. Lindell hit her second double of the game with one out. Kristensen reached on base by a walk. Erickson hit a 2-RBI double to score Lindell and Kristensen as Dakota State's deficit was narrowed down to 11-6.
Bearid hit a 2-run home run as Dordt extended their lead to 13-6 in the top seventh inning.
DC secured the game in the bottom seventh as the Trojans left one runner on base.
Lindell was perfect at the plate after going 3-for-3 with two doubles, single and collected two RBIs for Dakota State. Erickson added a triple, 
double, single and produced three RBIs. Miller added two singles. Rubalcava had a single and an RBI. Hill had a hit.
Bearid had a home run, triple and single for Dordt. VanVoorst added a triple and a double. White had three hits. Dunn and Pierce each had two hits. Hoogland, Corinne Valdix and Harmelink each recorded a single. VanVoorst, Dunn, Beaird, White, Hoogland and Pierce each tallied two RBIs.
DC outhit DSU 15-10. The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the Defenders six runners left on base.
Kristensen started the game on the pitching mound for DSU. She tossed a total of 5 1/3 innings and gave up 10 runs (4 unearned) on 13 hits. Shai-Lee Hill (0-9) recorded the loss after coming in the third inning. She worked for 1 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on two hits.
Danielle Stosuy pitched the first 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits for DC. Sidney Larsen (4-7) earned the pitching victory in relief and she worked for 3 2/3 innings. She gave up two runs on three hits.
Dakota State stays busy as they swing back in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference play Friday and Saturday (originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, but pending weather forecast had forced the move up one day). The Trojans visit Mayville State (N.D.) in a four-game series in Portland, N.D. The doubleheader kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
