April 23, 2016
Photos credits by Scott Voigt
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued their action Saturday in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference triangular at Manor Park. The Trojans fell short to a pair of NSAA opponents, dropping 6-4 contest to Mayville State (N.D.) and 2-1 to host-team Presentation (S.D.). DSU finished the triangular with a 1-3 record.
The Trojans are 8-24 overall record and 4-16 NSAA conference record. MSU is 13-26 overall record and 6-14 NSAA after their 10-1 defeat to the Saints to close out the triangular. PC is 20-22 overall record and 10-10.
Game 1 – Mayville State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL
The Trojans earned the first lead of the game in the top second inning. DSU recorded three consecutive singles from Tatum Ronke, Ariana Duran and Harley Lindell with one out. Dakota State produced a run from three straight singles when Lindell hit an RBI single to score Ronke for 1-0 lead.
Alexandria Tinoco hit a 3-run home run in the bottom third as Mayville State overtook a 3-1 lead.
The Trojans answered with a run in the top fourth inning (MSU leads 3-2), thanks to Lindell's solo home run to deep center. It was her third home run of the season and sixth career home run at DSU.
DSU regained their lead after plating two runs in the top fifth. Elizabeth Rubalcava led off by hit-by-pitch. April Pisk hit a single and advanced Rubalcava to second base. Kylee Pospisil produced an RBI single to score Rubalcava as the Trojans tied the game at 3-3.
Ronke added an RBI fielder's choice to score Pisk as the Trojans grabbed a 4-3 lead in the top fifth inning.
The Comets responded back with two runs scored in the bottom half of the fifth inning. MSU opened up with four consecutive singles by Lauren Coronado, TInoco, Nina Gurgian and Tiffany Sorio. Gurgian hit an RBI single as MSU tied the game at 4-4.
With bases loaded for Mayville State, Megan Rabe recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Tinoco as MSU take a 5-4 lead.
Gurgian added an RBI single in the bottom sixth to extend MSU's lead to 6-4.
The Trojans attempted to make comeback when Ronke and Duran hit back-to-back singles in the top seventh inning with two outs. Mayville State secured the game after a ground out as DSU left runners on second and first bases.
Lindell went 2-of-4 at the plate with a home run, single and drove in two runs for Dakota State. Peyton Brokiewicz, Kayla Schmell and Ronke each added two singles. Pisk and Pospisil each had a hit. Pospisil and Ronke each had an RBI. Brokiewicz and Pospisil each swiped one base.
Tinoco was 2-of-4 with a home run, single and recorded three RBIs for MSU. Kiana Ishikawa added three singles. Soria had a double and a single. Gurgian tallied two singles and two RBIs. Rabe had an RBI.
MSU recorded 13 hits in the game compared to DSU 12 hits. The Trojans left 11 runners on base while the Comets had 9 runners left on base.
Audrey Kosman (L, 4-12) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for Dakota State. She tossed six innings and allowed six runs on 13 hits.
Felicia Gonzales started the game for Mayville State. She pitched four innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. Monica Gomez (W, 7-9) earned the victory in relief after working for three innings. She allowed two runs on five hits.
Game 2 – Presentation (S.D.) 2, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL
In DSU's final game in the NSAA conference triangular, the Trojans fell in a nail-biter with the host-team Presentation by the score of 2-1.
Dakota State took the first lead in the top half of the second inning. Ronke hit a single with one out and advanced to second base after Shai-Lee Hill's walk. Brokiewicz hit an RBI single with two outs to score Ronke for 1-0 DSU lead.
The Saints answered back with a run scored in the bottom second. Jaycee Herman and Shanice Webb hit back-to-back singles with one out. After Krystle Schweers reached on fielder's choice (Herman was forced out at third base, Cortni Mendoza added a single to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs.
Haylee Hemmert hit an RBI single to score Webb as PC tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom second frame.
The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chances in the top third inning as they left runners on third and first base (Rubalcava reached on base by a walk and advanced to second after Pisk's single; Rubalcava was on third base after Pospisil's fly out).
Shelby Anderson led off the bottom sixth inning with a solo home run as Presentation gained a 2-1 lead.
Lindell opened up the top seventh inning with a single for the Trojans. With one out, she advanced to second base after Schmell's sacrifice bunt. Rubalcava followed up with a single to advance Lindell to third base. The Trojans left runners on third and first bases after the Saints sealed the victory after recording the final out by a ground out.
Rubalcava and Kosman each had two singles for Dakota State. Brokiewicz tallied a single and an RBI. Pisk, Ronke and Lindell each had a hit.
Anderson went 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, single and an RBI for Presentation. Hemmert added two singles and an RBI. Mendoza and Webb each had a single.
Both teams registered eight hits in the game. DSU left nine runners on base compared to PC six runners left on base.
Claire Fischer (L, 2-4) took the loss in the circle for the Trojans. She pitched six innings and allowed two runs on eight hits.
Ashlyn O'Keefe (W, 8-8) tossed a complete game victory for the Saints. She gave up one run on eight hits. She also allowed three walks and struck out three DSU's batters.
Dakota State plays its final doubleheader on the road Wednesday afternoon, visiting No. 14-ranked Morningside (Iowa) in a non-conference action. First game is slated to start at 3 p.m. held at Jensen Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Trojans return home for the final six games at Thue Softball Complex on Thursday afternoon. DSU will host Mount Marty (S.D.) in a doubleheader before taking on Valley City State (N.D.) in the final home NSAA four-game series next weekend.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
