May 1, 2015

PHOTO GALLERY VS. JAMESTOWN (N.D.) - Photos credits by Cody Welu

PHOTO GALLERY VS. MAYVILLE STATE (N.D.) - Photos credits by Cody Welu

TOURNAMENT PAGE

MADISON, S.D. - Dakota State (S.D.) earned the game's first lead in both games in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball Conference Tournament Friday at Thue Softball Complex.  The Trojans, sixth-seeded in the conference tournament. were unable to maintain their lead as they fell short for an upset bid to the top-seeded Jamestown (N.D.) 10-5 and falling short after a furious seventh-inning comeback in 10-8 loss to No. 5 seed Mayville State (N.D.).

NSAA Tournament Opening Round Game:  No. 1 seed Jamestown (N.D.) 10, No. 6 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 5 - FINAL

No. 6 seed Dakota State (S.D.) grabbed a five-run lead to kick off the 2015 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball Conference Tournament opening round at Thue Softball Complex Friday morning.  The Jimmies then scored 10 straight runs and held off an upset bid by the Trojans for a 10-5 victory.

Dakota State scored the scoring outburst in the top second frame, thanks to a 2-run home run by Harley Lindell.  The Trojans continued their scoring run with a pair of RBI singles by Sara Erickson and Arian Duran, extending DaSU's lead to 4-0.

The Trojans added a run in the top third inning as Erica Belter hit an RBI ground out to score Lynnie Angle, who opened the inning with a double down the left field line.

Then, it was all Jimmies in the last four-and-half-innings.

UJ scored its first run in the bottom third inning caused by DaSU's defensive error after Brook Rheault's single, scoring Sydney Greenlund who had a double.  UJ cut DaSU's lead to 5-1.

The Jimmies exploded for five runs in the bottom fourth inning, overtaking a 6-5 lead over the Trojans.  The inning was highlighted by a pair of 2-RBI singles by Sydney Jeffers and Rylee Perez.

Autumn Wang drilled an RBI triple and then scored on the same play to give UJ an 8-5 lead in the fifth inning.

Jessica Snow added a 2-RBI double as the Jimmies' lead grew to 10-5.

UJ secured the victory as DaSU went three-and-out in the final inning, advancing to the winner's bracket portion of the NSAA Softball Conference Tournament.

Snow was 3-of-4 with a double, two singles and collected two RBIs for the Jimmies.  Jeffers added three singles and two RBIs.  Perez recorded a double and two RBIs.  Greenlund had a double and single.  Emily Newman, Wang, Brittany Rheault and Brook Rheault each had a hit.

Lindell had a home run and two RBIs for the Trojans.  Elizabeth Rubalcava and Angle each had a double.  Erickson, Lexy Miller and Brittany Hill each tallied two hits.  Belter, Erickson, and Duran each had an RBI.

UJ outhit DaSU 13-11 in the game.  The Trojans left 10 runners on base compared to the Jimmies 5 runners left on base.

Hanna Dunnigan started the game for UJ.  She worked for 1 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on five hits.  Emma Kella came in relief and tossed 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits.  Brittany Rheault (17-4) earned the victory as she pitched four scoreless innings.  She gave up three hits.

Ellie Kristensen recorded the loss on the pitching mound for the Trojans.  She worked for 3 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (one unearned) on nine hits.  Shai-Lee Hill tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowed four runs (two uneared) on four hits.

Loser's Out Game:  No. 5 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 10, No. 6 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 8 - FINAL

Fifth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) held off sixth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) furious seventh-inning rally Friday afternoon at Thue Softball Complex, hanging on for a 10-8 victory in the loser's out game of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball Conference Tournament.

The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game in the opening inning, highlighted by Sara Erickson's triple with one out.  Elizabeth Rubalcava hit an RBI single to give DaSU a 1-0 lead.

MSU put together a three-run second inning to overtake the lead from the Trojans.  The Comets recorded three consecutive RBIs by Felicia Gonzales, Tiffany Sora (double) and Onalise Rodrigeuz (single), holding a 3-1 lead.

Ellie Kristensen hit an RBI sacrifice fly as Dakota State trimmed Mayville State's lead to 3-2 in the bottom second.

The Comets went on to outscore the Trojans 7-0 in the next three innings, widening their lead to 10-2 before entering the bottom fifth frame.

DaSU was able to extend the game into the sixth inning after Brittany Hill recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Sara Erickson, who reached on base by a single.  The Trojans trimmed their deficit to 10-3.

After MSU went three-and-out in the top sixth and seventh innings, Dakota State mounted a late comeback in the bottom seventh frame.

Trailing 10-5 in the bottom seventh inning, Lynnie Angle smashed a 3-run home run to reduce MSU's lead to 10-8.  After changing pitcher, the Comets closed the game with a strikeout.

Soria had two doubles, single and recorded two RBIs for Mayville State.  Gonzales added a triple, double and tallied four RBIs.  Kiana Ishikawa and Nina Gurgian each added two hits and an RBI.  Daisy Macias, Megan Rabe and Rodriguez each had one hit.

Rubalcava went 3-of-3 at the plate with a double, two singles and produced two RBIs for Dakota State.  Angle added a home run, two singles and collected three RBIs.  Erickson and Ariana Duran each had two hits.  Erica Belter, Brittany Hill and Lexy Miller each recorded a hit.

Both teams have 13 hits and 6 runners left on base.

Haley Kravetz (4-9) notched the victory for the Comets.  She tossed 6 2/3 innings and gave up eight runs on 13 hits.  She recorded five strikeouts.  Monica Gomez (S, 1) earned the save in relief as she closed the game with a strikeout.

Kristensen (5-22) took the loss on the pitching mound for the Trojans.  She worked for 5 2/3 innings and gave up eight runs on nine hits.  Shai-Lee Hill tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits.

Dakota State finished their season with an overall record of 5-38.  It was the final career collegiate games for three DSU's seniors - Brittany Hill, Ellie Kristensen and Lexy Miller.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director