April 14, 2016

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) began their six-game road trip to Iowa Thursday evening, visiting Dordt (Iowa) in a non-conference doubleheader at Open Space Park.  The Trojans fell short in the first game by the score of 3-2 in eight innings and the Defenders won the second game 2-0 to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Dakota State fell to 7-15 overall record.  Dordt, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, raised their overall record to 18-14.

Game 1 – Dordt (Iowa) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL/8 innings

The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game in the opening inning of the first game.  After the first two outs were recorded, Elizabeth Rubalcava was hit-by-pitch.  Audrey Kosman followed up with a walk and advanced Rubalcava to second base.  April Pisk hit an RBI double to score Rubalcava to give DSU a 1-0 lead.

Dordt answered back with a run scored in the bottom half of the first inning.  Kassidy Van Voorst led off with a single.  She swiped to second base and advanced to third base after DSU's defensive error.  Corinne Valdix hit an RBI ground out to score Van Voorst as DC knotted the game at 1-1.

The Defenders added a run in the bottom fourth inning for their first lead of the game.  Samantha Johnson started off with a single and advanced to second after Carissa McBirnie's ground out to short-shop.  Michal Hoogland hit another ground out, advancing Johnson to third base.

Tessa Howerzyl produced an RBI single to score Johnson to give the Defenders a 2-1 lead in the bottom fourth frame.

Dakota State ended their scoring drought with a run scored in the top sixth.  Kosman led off with a single, but she was out at second base after Pisk's fielder choice.  Pisk advanced to second after DC committed a wild pitch.  Tatum Ronke hit an RBI single to score Pisk as the Trojans tied the game at 2-2.

Both teams were unable to score in the final inning, as the game was extended into extra innings.

DSU's Rubalcava was placed on second base to start the top eighth inning due to international tie breaker rule in non-conference games.  Kosman hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Rubalcava to third base.  Pisk hit a fielder's choice to second base, but the Trojans could not take the lead as Rubalcava was tagged out at home.  DSU did not score in the top eighth inning.

Dordt placed Andrea Pierce at second base to start the bottom eighth inning (per international tie breaker rule).  Van Voorst hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Pierce to third base.  Valdix hit an RBI single to score Pierce as the Defenders won the first game 3-2.

Peyton Brokiewicz was 2-of-4 at the plate with two singles for the Trojans.  Pisk had a double and an RBI.  Ronke added a single, RBI and swiped one base.  Ariana Duran, Rubalcava and Pisk each recorded a single.

Valdix went 2-of-4 with two singles and two RBIs for Dordt.  Van Voorst added two singles and recorded two stolen bases.  Howerzyl had a single and an RBI.  Johnson and Jordan Harmelink each had a hit.

Both teams registered seven hits in the game.  The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the Defenders four runners left on base.

Kosman (L, 3-8) took the loss in the circle for DSU.  She pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed three runs (two unearned) on seven hits.

Tianna Top (W, 10-5) earned the victory after tossing eight innings for DC.  She gave up two runs on seven hits.

Game 2 – Dordt (Iowa) 2, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

Dordt scored its all runs in the bottom third inning to earn a 2-0 victory in the nightcap.

Dakota State was unable to earn the first lead in the opening inning as they left runners on third and second bases.

The Defenders got on board in the bottom third inning.  Pierce led off with a single.  Van Voorst followed up with an RBI triple to score Pierce for DC 1-0 lead.

Dordt made it 2-0 after an RBI single by Johnson to score Van Voorst in the bottom third.

The Defenders secured the victory after the Trojans left two runners on base in the final inning.

Rubalcava, Harley Lindell and Shai-Lee Hill each had a single for DSU.

Johnson went 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles and an RBI.  Van Voorst added a triple and an RBI.  Pierce had two singles.  Molly Vignovich recorded a hit.

DC outhit DSU 6-3.  Dakota State left seven runners on base, while Dordt had three runners left on base.

The Defenders committed four defensive errors in the game.

Ashley Olson (L, 2-4) recorded the loss for the Trojans.  She pitched six innings and gave up two runs on six hits.

CJ Van Der Zwaag (W, 6-5) earned a complete game victory for the Defenders.  She limited the Trojans to three hits.

Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning track this weekend as they resume their North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference action.  The Trojans continue their action in Iowa as they visit Waldorf (Iowa) in a four-game series.  The first doubleheader kicks off on Saturday at 3 p.m. and conclude the series on Sunday at 11 a.m.

The four-game series take place at Forest City High School Softball Field in Forest City, Iowa.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director