April 17, 2015
PORTLAND, N.D. – Trailing 3-0 in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association Softball four-game conference series at Portland Softball Field, Dakota State (S.D.) roared back by outscoring Mayville State (N.D.) 6-0 in the final two innings for a 6-3 victory. The Comets scored twice in the bottom sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie and held off the Trojans for a 5-3 game two victory to gain a doubleheader split.
Dakota State, which snapped their 14-game losing skid in the first game along with first NSAA conference victory this season, is 2-27 overall record and 1-11 NSAA record. Mayville State is 5-23 overall record and 4-8 NSAA conference record.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Mayville State (N.D.) 3 – FINAL
Danielle Sheridan led off the Comets with a solo home run for a 1-0 lead in the bottom first frame.
Both teams were unable to score from the second through the fourth innings.
Nina Gurgian hit a 2-run home run in the bottom fifth inning to extend Mayville State's lead to 3-0.
Dakota State's offense exploded for five run in the top sixth inning to overtake the lead from the Comets. With runners on first and second bases with two outs, Lynnie Angle blasted a 3-run home run to knot the game at 3-3.
Harley Lindell reached on base by MSU's defensive error in the top sixth inning. Ellie Kristensen added a single and advanced Lindell to second bae. Shai-Lee Hill, pinch hitter for Erica Belter, produced an RBI single to score Lindell as the Trojans earned their first lead of the game at 4-3. DSU added a run by Kristensen by MSU's defensive indifference, extending Trojans' lead to 5-3.
DSU's lead grew to 6-3 in the top seventh inning. Elizabeth Rubalcava led off with a single. She advanced to second base after Brittany Hill hit a sacrifice bunt. Ariana Duran recorded an RBI single to score Rubalcava as DSU's lead extended by three runs.
The Trojans secured the game in the bottom seventh inning as the Comets left two runners on base.
Belter and Lexy Miller each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Dakota State. Angle had a home run and collected three RBIs. Shai-Lee Hill, Rubalcava, Brittany Hill, Duran, and Kristensen each had a hit. Shai-Lee Hill and Duran each recorded an RBI.
Gurgian was 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, double and recorded two RBIs for Mayville State. Jordyn Bradley added two hits. Sheridan had a home run and an RBI. Daisy Macias, Rachel Koopman, Monica Gomez, Tiffany Soria and Megan Cole each had a hit.
Both teams had 10 hits in the game. The Comets left 10 runners on base while the Trojans had seven runners left on base.
Kristensen tossed a complete game victory on the pitching mound for DSU. She gave up three runs on ten hits. She recorded four strikeouts.
Haley Kravetz recorded the loss for MSU. She pitched a complete game and gave up six runs (one unearned) on ten hits.
Game 2 – Mayville State (N.D.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL
The Trojans earned the first lead in the second game of the four-game series. With bases loaded situation with two outs for DSU in the top first, Miller recorded an RBI walk to give Dakota State a 1-0 opening lead.
Mayville State ended their scoring drought with a pair of runs scored in the bottom fourth frame. The Comets led off with three straight singles by Gurgian, Bradley and Megan Rabe to set up a bases loaded situation. Kiana Ishikawa hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Gurgian to tie the game at 1-1.
Soria added an RBI single to score Bradley as MSU overtook a 2-1 lead in the bottom fourth inning.
Dakota State answered with a run scored in the top fifth for the second tie of the game. Sara Erickson hit a single with one out. She swiped to second base. Brittany Hill added a single with two outs and advanced Erickson to third base. Duran produced an RBI single to score Erickson, tying the game at 2-2.
MSU scored once in the bottom fifth inning after Bradley hit an RBI sacrifice fly. Macias and Gurgian each had a single in the inning.
DSU rallied back in the top sixth inning to knot the game for the third time. Lindell and Kristensen kicked off the inning with back-to-back walks. Both runners swiped one base. Rubalcava hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Lindell to tie the game at 3-3. The Trojans were unable to add more runs in the sixth inning as they left three runners on base.
After Ishikawa and Soria reached safely to start the bottom sixth frame for MSU, Macias hit a 2-RBI double with two outs as the Comets take over a 5-3 lead over DSU.
Dakota State was unable to come back in the last inning with one runner left on base, securing the victory for Mayville State.
Erickson, Brittany Hill and Duran each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Trojans. Belter, Miller and Angle each added a hit. Rubalcava, Duran and Miller each had an RBI.
Gurigan was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 for the Comets. Ishikawa and Macias each added two hits. Bradley and Soria each had a hit and an RBI.
Mayville State outhit Dakota State 10-9. The Trojans left 12 runners on base while the Comets had 7 runners left on base.
Shai-Lee Hill started the game on the pitching mound for DSU. She tossed 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Kristensen (2-16) recorded the loss in relief after working for 2 2/3 innings. She gave up three runs on four hits.
Gomez pitched the first five-plus innings for MSU. She gave up three runs on seven hits. Kravetz (3-5) earned the victory after pitching two scoreless innings, limiting the Trojans to two hits.
Dakota State and Mayville State conclude their NSAA Softball four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Portland, N.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
