April 29, 2015
BROOKINGS, S.D – Dakota State raced to a 3-0 lead in the first game of the non-conference regular-season doubleheader finale at NCAA Division II South Dakota State at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium. The Jackrabbits went on to outscore the Trojans 11-2 for a 13-5 game one victory in five innings. SDSU scored two runs in the first three innings in the nightcap and held off the Trojans 9-1 in six innings.
Dakota State concluded their regular-season schedule with an overall record of 5-36. South Dakota State, which concluded their home regular-season schedule, improved their overall record to 22-24. Both teams wore pink in the game to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.
Game 1: South Dakota State 13, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL/5 innings
The Trojans three runs through two-and-half innings before the Jackrabbits exploded for eight runs in the bottom third frame and cruised to a 13-5 victory.
DSU grabbed the first lead of the game in the top second inning, thanks to a pair of doubles. Brittany Hill led off with a double. Harley Lindell added an RBI double with two outs to score Brittany Hill for DSU 1-0 lead.
Dakota State added two more runs in the top third to extend their lead to 3-0. Erica Belter opened up the inning with a walk. She advanced to second base after a wild pitch by SDSU's Katie Lang. Elizabeth Rubalcava reached on base by a defensive error caused by the Jackrabbits. Lang threw another wild pitch to allow Belter to third base and Rubalcava to second base.
Brittany Hill produced an RBI single to score Belter to extend DSU's lead to 2-0 in the top second inning (Rubalcava advanced to third). Ariana Duran recorded an RBI ground out to score Rubalcava as the Trojans maintain a three-run lead.
The Jackrabbits exploded for eight runs in the bottom third frame to overtake an 8-3 lead from the Trojans. Christian McKone opened with a single and advanced to second by DSU's defensive error. Jessica Markanich hit an RBI double to score McKone for SDSU's first run of the game, trimming DSU's lead to 3-1.
South Dakota State Alyssa D'Agostion smashed a 2-run home run to knot the game at 3-3 in the bottom third.
SDSU continued their scoring run with five more runs, highlighted by Cassidy Vlot's 2-run home run and McKone's RBI single.
The Jackrabbits made it 10-2 in the bottom fourth inning after Devan Larsen hit a 2-run home run. Danielle Steffo added an RBI single to score Vlot, who had a double in the inning, as SDSU's lead grew to 11-2.
Dakota State answered back with two runs scored in the top fifth inning with an RBI single by Brittany Hill and a run scored caused by SDSU's defensive error. The Jackrabbits' lead had been reduced to 11-5.
Elyse Eitel hit a solo home run and the Jackrabbits added a run caused by DSU's defensive miscue, securing the victory in the bottom fifth inning with two outs.
Brittany Hill went perfect at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a double and collected two RBIs for Dakota State. Lindell added a double and an RBI. Duran had a single and an RBI. Belter and Shai-Lee Hill each had a hit. Belter and Rubalcava each scored twice.
The Jackrabbits hit a total of four home runs in the game with a piece by Vlot, Larsen, Eitel and D'Agostion. Markanich and Sturgeon each had two doubles. D'Agosition, Larsen and Vlot each tallied two RBIs. McKone and Larsen each swiped one base.
SDSU outhit DSU 18-7 in the game. The Jackrabbits left six runners on base compared to the Trojans five runners left on base.
Ellie Kristensen started the game for DSU, working for 3 2/3 innings. She gave up six runs (one unearned) on 10 hits. Kristensen recorded four strikeouts from the pitching mound. Shai-Lee Hill (0-14) recorded the loss in relief as she tossed one inning, allowing seven runs on eight hits.
Lang (2-1) earned a complete game victory for SDSU. She pitched five innings and allowed five runs (two unearned) on seven hits. She recorded four strikeouts.
Game 2: South Dakota State 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/6 innings
DSU could not be able to convert their scoring chances in the night cap as they left bases loaded situation (Sara Erickson's single, Rubalcava's double and Brittany Hill's walk) in the opening inning.
The Jackrabbits earned a 2-0 lead in the bottom first inning.
Vlot hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom second frame to extend SDSU's lead to 3-0. Markanich added an RBI double to make it 4-0 in favor of South Dakota State.
Vlot drilled a 2-RBI triple to propel SDSU to a 6-0 lead in the bottom third inning.
The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with a run scored in the top fourth inning. Lexy Miller hit a single with one out. She swiped to second base. Kristensen produced an RBI single to score Miller to cut South Dakota State's lead to 6-1.
SDSU sealed the victory by scoring three runs in the bottom sixth inning.
Kristensen was 2-of-2 at the plate with two singles and an RBI for Dakota State. Rubalcava added a double. Erickson, Miller and Lynnie Angle each had a single. Lindell reached on base by a walk three times.
Vlot had a home run, triple and earned three RBIs for South Dakota State. Larsen added three hits and two RBIs. McKone, Markanich, D'Agostion, Eitel, Lauren Chimside, Jordyn Sturgeon and Danielle Steffo each recorded a hit.
SDSU had 12 hits in the game compared to DSU 6 hits. Both teams left six runners on base.
Kristensen (5-20) took the loss on the pitching mound for the Trojans. She tossed four innings and allowed six runs (two unearned) on seven hits. Shai-Lee Hill worked for 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up three runs and five hits.
Vlot (2-0) recorded a complete game victory for the Jackrabbits, working for six innings. She gave up one run on six hits and struck out six DSU's batters.
Dakota State heads into the postseason play Friday morning as they host the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball Conference Tournament at Thue Softball Complex. The Trojans, No. 6 seed in the tournament, open up the conference tournament against the top-seeded Jamestown (N.D.) with the first pitch set for 9 a.m. The double-elimination tournament runs through Sunday with the championship game.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
