February 27, 2016
Photos credits by Scott Voigt
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) fell short in the softball season-opening games at the Presentation (S.D.) College Softball Dome Tournament at PC Dome Saturday morning. The Trojans lost to Morningside (Iowa) 7-2 and Presentation (S.D.) 7-1.
Morningside (Iowa) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
The Trojans could not be able to hold on to their early 2-1 lead as they dropped the first game of the season.
Morningside – who remained undefeated at 6-0 overall record after the game – earned the first lead of the game in the top first inning. Elin Landgren led off the game with a double and advanced to third after a base hit by Abby Conner. After Allie Martinez was hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation with one out, McKenzie Anderson recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Landgren for 1-0 MC lead.
Dakota State answered back with two runs in the bottom first frame to overtake the lead from the Mustangs. Peyton Brokiewicz started the batting order with a walk. Kayla Schmell recorded a bunt single to advance Brokiewicz to second base, but on the same play both Brokiewicz and Schmell scored caused by MC's defensive error as DSU take a 2-1 lead.
Anna Milone smashed a solo home run as Morningside tied the game at 2-2 in the top second inning.
Milone added another solo home run to lead off the top fourth inning as the Mustangs regained their lead at 3-2. Allie Martinez produced a 2-RBI single to extend MC's lead to 5-2.
Morningside made it 6-2 after Abboy Conner hit a solo home run in the top sixth. Kayla Johnk added an RBI single in the seventh inning to complete the final score.
Schmell went 1-for-3 at the plate for the Trojans. Brokiewicz had a walk.
Conner was 3-of-4 with a home run, two singles and swiped two bases for MC. Milone registered two home runs and two RBIs in the game. Landgren also had two hits.
MC outhit DSU 10-1 in the game. The Mustangs left nine runners on base while the Trojans left one runner on base.
Despite the loss, Audrey Kosman (0-1) tossed a complete game on the pitching mound for Dakota State. She allowed seven run on ten hits. She struck out nine MC's batters.
Rachel Henks (2-1) earned a complete game win for Morningside. She gave up two unearned runs on one hit. Henks recorded 19 strikeouts.
Presentation (S.D.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL
Presentation (S.D.) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the bottom second inning, thanks to back-to-back singles by Shanice Webb and Amber Ewert. Both Webb and Ewert advanced one base after Morgan Ormonde hit a ground out. Webb swiped for home to score the first run of the game.
Haylee Hemmert led off the bottom third with a triple, followed by Kassandra Orozco's RBI single to score Hemmert for PC 2-0 lead.
The Trojans got on board in the top fourth frame. Elizabeth Rubalcava opened up with a single. She advanced to second base after April Pisk's bunt ground out. Kosman produced an RBI double to center to allow Rubalcava to score for DSU's first run of the game, cutting PC's lead to 2-1.
Presentation made it 3-1 in the bottom fourth, thanks to a lead-off double by Ormonde. After she stole for third base, she scored after Krystle Schweers's RBI ground out.
The Saints added a run in the bottom fifth inning and exploded for three more runs in the bottom sixth for 7-1 lead.
Dakota State could not convert their scoring chances in the last inning as they left one runner on base, securing the win for the Saints.
Schmell and Rubalcava both went 2-for-4 at the plate for DSU. Kosman added two doubles and an RBI. Shai-Lee Hill had a single. Brokiewicz, Tatum Ronke, Hill and Lynnie Angle each reached on base by a walk.
PC's Shelby Anderson went perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles. Hemmert had a triple and a single with one RBI. Orozco tallied two hits and an RBI. Jacque Trost, Webb, Ewert and Ormonde each had a hit.
Presentation, who raised to 4-1 overall record after the game, recorded 12 hits in the game compared to Dakota State 7 hits.
The Trojans left nine runners on base. The Saints had eight runners left on base.
Claire Fischer (0-1) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She pitched five-plus innings and gave up seven runs (three unearned) on 11 hits. Hill pitched one scoreless inning and allowed one hit.
Ashlyn O'Keefe (2-0) pitched a complete game for PC's victory. She gave up one run on seven hits and recorded nine strikeouts.
Dakota State remains on the road next Saturday (March 5) as they head to Omaha, Neb. The Trojans visit Grace (Neb.) in a non-conference doubleheader. First game is slated for 3 p.m. at HP Smith Field (21st and O streets in south Omaha).
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
