March 28, 2016
Photo credits by Scott Voigt
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) hosted its North Star Athletic Association opener in a triangular with nationally-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) Monday at Thue Softball Complex. The Trojans dropped a pair of games, 12-1 defeat to the Blue Hawks and 9-1 loss to the Bruins.
Dakota State fell to 2-4 overall record and 0-2 NSAA record. Dickinson State, ranked No. 17 in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll and earned a 1-0 victory over Bellevue in the first game of the triangular, won their 15th straight game to raise their overall record to 19-6 and 2-0 NSAA. Bellevue is 9-13 overall record and earned its first-ever NSAA conference win (1-1 NSAA).
All three teams will play each other for the second time Tuesday. Note the game times change due to late afternoon weather concerns where the Blue Hawks and Bruins will kick off the triangular at 10 a.m., followed by Trojans-Blue Hawks at 12 p.m. and conclude with a game between BU and DaSU.
#17 Dickinson State (N.D.) 12, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL
The Blue Hawks had a 2-0 lead, but outscored the Trojans 10-1 in the final three innings for a 12-1 victory in the second game of the NSAA triangular.
After two scoreless innings, Dickinson State got on board in the top third with two runs scored. Monique Yslas led off with a double. Brianna Grayson produced a one-out RBI single to score Yslas for Blue Hawks' 1-0 lead. DiSU made it 2-0 after McKenzie Bassett's RBI single to score Grayson.
The Blue Hawks extended their lead to 7-0 after scoring five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Shannen Donnelly's 2-RBI double and Morgan Glowa's RBI triple.
Dakota State scored its first run of the game in the bottom fifth frame. Kylee Pospisil hit a single with one out. Peyton Brokiewicz reached on first base after Blue Hawks' defensive error and advanced Pospisil to third base. Kayla Schmell produced an RBI single to score Pospisil as the Trojans cut Blue Hawks' lead to 8-1.
Bassett hit a two-out RBI single to score Alex Vargas, who opened the sixth inning with a single, as Dickinson State's lead went up to 8-1.
The Blue Hawks added four runs in the seventh inning, extending their lead to 12-1. Shannen Donnelly led off with an inside park home run after hitting a line drive to right field. The Blue Hawks then reeled off four consecutive singles by McKenzie Kenobbie, Yslas, Vargas and Grayson.
The Trojans left one runner on base when the game ended, sealing the victory for Dickinson State.
Audrey Kosman went perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two singles for Dakota State. Schmell added a single and an RBI. Ariana Duran and Pospisil each had a hit. Brokiewich swiped one base.
Vargas went 4-of-5 at the plate, earning a triple, three singles and an RBI for the Blue Hawks. Grayson added two singles and three RBIs. Kenobbie, Yslas, Whitney Mesi, Bassett and Donnelly each had two hits. Donnelley tallied three RBIs. Glowa had a triple and two RBIs.
The Blue Hawks outhit the Trojans 18-5 in the game. DiSU left ten runners on base compared to DaSU eight runners left on base.
Kosman (L, 1-2) took the loss, despite pitching a complete game for Dakota State. She gave up 12 runs (2 unearned) on 18 hits.
Abi Brooks (W, 6-3) earned a complete game victory for Dickinson State. She allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out five DaSU's batters.
Bellevue (Neb.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL
The Bruins scored a combined nine runs in the second and third innings to earn their first-ever NSAA conference victory in the nightcap of the NSAA triangular.
Both teams did not score in the first inning.
The Bruins scored three runs in the top second inning, highlighted by Emily Gigax's 2-RBI single with two outs.
Bellevue continued their scoring surge with six runs in the third inning for a nine-run lead, thanks to Courtney Schendt's 3-RBI double.
The Trojans ended their scoring drought with a run scored in the bottom fourth frame. Brokiewicz led off with a single. She advanced to second base after Schmell's ground out. Elizabeth Rubalcava hit a single and advanced Brokiewicz to third base, but scored home on the same play caused by BU's defensive error.
BU secured the game after the Trojans went three-and-out in the bottom fifth inning.
Brokiewicz went 1-of-2 at the plate with a single and a run scored for Dakota State. Rubalcava added a single.
Schendt had a double and collected three RBIs for Bellevue. Gigax added a single and two RBIs. Katie Franzen, Michaela Miller, Sayde Woten and Kaitlyn Goney each recorded an RBI. Franzen, Alex Tooley and Sarah Zeleny each had a hit.
BU had five hits in the game compared to DaSU two hits. The Bruins left two runners on base while the Trojans left one runner on base.
Ashley Olson (L, 0-1) took the loss on the pitching mound for the Trojans. She worked for 2 1/3 innings and gave up nine runs (one unearned) on five hits. Claire Fischer tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief.
Kelli Fisher (W, 7-8) earned the victory for the Bruins. She pitched four innings and allowed one run on two hits. She recorded five strikeouts. Erin Sharpe closed the game in the fifth inning in relief.
#17 Dickinson State (N.D.), Bellevue (Neb.) 0 – FINAL
Dickinson State won the pitching duel with Bellevue in the first game of the NSAA conference triangular in both teams' conference opener.
The only score came in the sixth inning as the Blue Hawk, thanks to Vargas' lead-off triple. Grayson hit an RBI single to score Vargas to give DiSU a 1-0 lead.
Kenobbie went 2-of-4 at the plate with two singles for Dickinson State. Vargas had a triple and a run scored. Grayson added a single and an RBI. Yslas also had a hit.
Zeleny and Goney each had a single for Bellevue.
Alex Watson (W, 8-1) tossed a complete game win for the Blue Hawks. She limited BU to two hits and struck out nine Bruins' batters.
Fisher took the loss after working a complete game for the Bruins. She allowed one run on five hits. She recorded six strikeouts.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
