April 22, 2016
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned back to the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference play Friday afternoon, playing in a conference triangular with host-team Presentation (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) at Manor Park. The Trojans halted their eight-game losing skid with a 4-3 8-inning thriller over the host-team PC. DSU fell to MSU 11-5 in the third game of the triangular, earning a split on the day.
Dakota State is 8-22 overall record and 4-13 NSAA conference record. Presentation is 20-24 and 8-10 NSAA after they defeated the Comets 3-1 in the second game of the triangular. Mayville State is 12-25 overall record and 5-13 NSAA.
All three teams will play again on Saturday, starting with Dakota State taking on Mayville State at 11 a.m. followed by DSU-Presentation at 1 p.m. MSU-PC play in the third game of the triangular at 3 p.m. All games will be at the Manor Park.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Presentation (S.D.) 3 – FINAL/8 innings
Dakota State answered back in the final inning after Presentation overtook the lead in the bottom sixth inning. The Trojans extended the game into extra innings and held off the Saints for a 4-3 NSAA conference victory.
Both teams were unable to score in the first five innings of the game.
The Trojans got on board in the top sixth inning, plating two runs. Harley Lindell reached on base by PC's defensive error. Peyton Brokiewicz reached safely to third base after the Saints' dropped a fly ball, allowing Lindell to score for 1-0 DSU lead.
Elizabeth Rubalcava added an RBI single with two outs to score Brokiewicz to extend Dakota State's lead to 2-0 in the top sixth frame.
The Saints answered back with three runs to overtake the lead from DSU. Krystle Schweers led off with hit-by-pitch. Cortni Mendoza followed up with a single and advanced Schweers to second base. Haylee Hemmert hit a 3-run home run as PC gained a 3-2 lead.
Entering the final inning, April Pisk led off the Trojans with a double to left-center. After two straight outs, Ariana Duran produced an RBI single to score Pisk as Dakota State tied the game at 3-3.
The Trojans prevented the Saints to score a run in the bottom seventh inning. Jaycee Herman started off with a single for PC. She was caught stealing for the first out of the bottom seventh. DSU extended the game into extra inning after recording the final two outs of the inning.
Kayla Schmell hit a single with one out for the Trojans in the top eighth inning. Audrey Kosman reached on base-on-balls with two outs and advanced Schmell to second base. Pisk hit an RBI single to score Schmell as DSU regained their lead at 4-3.
Presentation was unable to score in the bottom eighth as they left Hemmert on second base after she hit a single (and advanced to second after a ground out), securing the win the Trojans.
Pisk was 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single and an RBI for Dakota State. Duran and Rubalcava each added a single and an RBI. Kosman had a double. Schmell recorded a single. Brokiewicz earned an RBI.
Hemmert went 3-of-4 with a home run, two singles and recorded three RBIs for Presentation. Kassandra Orozco added two singles. Mendoza and Herman each had a hit.
PC tallied seven hits in the game compared to DSU six hits. The Trojans left five runners on base while the Saints left four runners on base.
Kosman (W, 4-11) tossed a complete game winner in the circle for the Trojans. She allowed three runs on seven hits.
Kayla Reynolds (L, 10-10) recorded a complete game loss for the Saints. She gave up four runs (one unearned) on six hits. She struck out seven DSU's batters.
Game 2 – Mayville State (N.D.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL
The Comets used a fast start in the third game of the NSAA conference triangular, defeating the Trojans 11-5.
Lauren Coronado and Alexandra Tinoco hit back-to-back singles with one out for MSU in the opening inning. Kaley Wedgewood recorded an RBI single to score Coronado for MSU's first lead at 1-0.
Tiffany Soria followed up with a 3-run home run as the Comets extended their lead to 4-0 in the first inning.
Mayville State made it 5-0 in the top third inning with a solo home run by Tinoco.
The Trojans scored twice in the bottom third inning. Shai-Lee Hill led off with a walk. Brokiewicz added base-on-balls and advanced Erica Belter, pinch runner for Hill, to second base. Rubalcava drilled a 2-RBI double to score Belter and Brokiewicz as Dakota State trimmed MSU's lead to 5-2.
Dakota State added a run in the bottom fourth frame, thanks to three consecutive singles with two outs. Tatum Ronke and Hill hit back-to-back singles, followed by Lindell with an RBI single to score Ronke as Trojans trailed 5-3.
Mayville State answered back with four runs in the top fifth inning, increasing their lead to 9-3. The Comets reeled off four straight hits with two outs, highlighted by Soria's 2-RBI double.
Coronado hit a 2-run home run in the top sixth inning as MSU's lead grew to 11-3.
The Trojans scored twice in the bottom sixth. Duran reached on base by a walk with two outs. She advanced to second base after Comets' wild pitch. Lindell followed up with a single and advanced Duran to third base. Brokiewicz blasted a 2-RBI double to right field to score Duran and Lindell as DSU trimmed Comets' lead to 11-5.
Dakota State left one runner on base in the final inning as MSU secured the victory.
Rubalcava collected two doubles and drove in two runs for the Trojans. Lindell added two singles and an RBI. Brokiewicz had a double and two RBIs. Ronke and Hill each had a hit.
Soria recorded a home run, double and five RBIs for the Comets. Coronado and Tinoco each added a home run and a single. Danielle Sheridan hit a triple. Felicia Gonzales and Kaley Wedgewood each had two hits and an RBI.
MSU outhit DSU 12-7 in the game. The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the Comets three runners left on base.
Ashley Olson (L, 2-8) took the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She worked for three-plus innings and allowed five runs on five hits. Kosman tossed four innings in relief, giving up six runs on seven hits.
Gonzales (W, 1-5) earned the victory for the Comets. She pitched four innings and gave up three runs on four hits. Monica Gomez worked for the last three innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
