April 9, 2016
Photos credits by Scott Voigt
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Viterbo (Wis.) resumed to North Star Athletic Association Softball conference play Saturday at Thue Softball Complex, which saw strong winds of over 30 miles-per-hour with gusts winds of over 40 miles-per-hour. The Trojans earned their first conference victory in the first game 4-2, and roared back with a 12-11 game two victory after Audrey Kosman's walk-off RBI to complete a doubleheader sweep over the V-Hawks.
Dakota State ended their 10-game losing skid, improving their overall record to 4-12 and 2-8 NSAA conference record. Viterbo dropped their ninth and tenth straight game, dipping their overall record to 7-26 and 1-8 NSAA.
Both teams conclude their NSAA four-game series Sunday with another doubleheader, starting at 12 p.m.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Viterbo (Wis.) 2 – FINAL
Dakota State grabbed its first lead of the game in the bottom second frame with two runs scored. April Pisk reached on base by a walk with one out. Tatum Ronke followed up with a single and advanced Pisk to second. Ariana Duran also added a walk with two outs, setting up bases loaded situation for the Trojans.
Harley Lindell was safe at first after Viterbo committed a defensive error, allowing DSU to score two runs from Pisk and Ronke for a 2-0 lead in the bottom second.
The V-Hawks answered with one run in the top third, highlighted by Anna Lensmire's triple with one out. Kelsey Ludwig hit a one-out RBI single to score Lensmire as VU trimmed DSU's lead to 2-1.
After recording the first two outs of the bottom sixth inning, the Trojans' offense hit back-to-back extra-base hits and a single to produce a pair of runs. Lindell hit a double to deep center. Peyton Brokiewicz drilled an RBI triple to deep right-center, scoring Lindell for DSU's 3-1 lead.
Kayla Schmell added an RBI single to score Brokiewicz as the Trojans' lead grew to 4-1 in the bottom sixth frame.
V-Hawk Ludwig had an RBI triple with two outs in the top seventh inning, but DSU secured the victory after VU's Lauren Davis flied out to center field.
Brokiewicz went 2-of-4 at the plate, with a triple, single and an RBI for the Trojans. Lindell added a double and a run scored. Schmell had a single and an RBI. Pisk and Ronke each had a hit. Kosman swiped one base.
Ludwig was 4-of-4 at the plate with a triple, three singles and tallied two RBIs for the V-Hawks. Bailey Thur added two hits. Lensmire had a triple and a single. Davis recorded a double. Sarah Throgmorton had a stolen base.
VU outhit DSU 9-6. The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the V-Hawks seven runners left on base. The Trojans' defense recorded two double plays in the game.
Kosman earned a complete game victory on the pitching mound for DSU. She gave up two runs (one unearned) on nine hits. She recorded three strikeouts.
Kayla McInereney (L, 4-8) recorded the loss in the circle for VU after tossing six innings. She allowed four runs (two unearned) on sixth hits. She struck out three Trojans' batters.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 12, Viterbo (Wis.) 11 – FINAL
Trailing 11-3 before heading the bottom fifth inning in the second game of the doubleheader, the Trojans avoided the eight-run mercy rule with three runs and completed a furious comeback with six runs scored with no outs in the final inning for a 12-11 victory.
Viterbo strike first in the opening inning with two runs scored. Lensmire led off the game with a single, followed by Ludwig's double. Lauren Davis bunted and reached safely on first base while Lensmire was safe at home for VU's 1-0 lead. Thur added an RBI sacrifice fly to score Ludwig as the V-Hawks extended their lead to 2-0.
Dakota State got on board in the bottom second frame. Kosman started the Trojans with a walk. She swiped to second base. Pisk hit a ground out and advanced Kosman to third base. Kylee Pospisil recorded a two-out RBI single to score Kosman as DSU cut VU's lead to 2-1.
The Trojans knotted the game with a run scored in the bottom half of the third inning. Brokiewicz hit a single and swiped to second base. Elizabeth Rubalcava smashed an RBI double to score Brokiewicz to tie the game at 2-2.
Viterbo exploded for six runs in the top fourth inning to regain their lead. Throgmorton led off with a double. Emma Humphrey was hit-by-pitch. Moira Collins grounded out to shortshop and advanced Brittany Remold (pinch runner for Throgmorton) to third base and Humphrey to second base.
Lensmire collected an RBI single to give VU a 3-2 lead in the top fourth inning (scored Remold). Ludwig followed up with an RBI double to score Humphrey and Lauren Davis with an RBI single for V-Hawks' 5-2 lead.
VU continued its scoring run after Thur's 2-RBI single for 7-2 lead in the top fourth. Kirsten Tomlinson added an RBI single to make it 8-2 in favor of Viterbo.
DSU scored once in the bottom fourth after a defensive error committed by the V-Hawks, trimming Trojans' deficit to 8-3.
The V-Hawks scored three more runs in the top fifth inning to extend their lead to 11-3.
After Schmell reached on base by VU's defensive error to kick off the bottom fifth frame, the Trojans extended the game after Kosman's RBI double to score Schmell (VU leads 11-4). Ronke produced an RBI single to score Kosman (Ronke advanced to second on a throw), followed by Pospisil's RBI single to score Ronke as DSU trailed 11-6.
Dakota State mounted a furious comeback in the bottom seventh inning, scoring six runs with no outs. Pisk led off with a single and advanced to second base after Ronke reached on base by VU's defensive error. Pospisil hit an RBI single to score Pisk as DSU's deficit went down to 11-7.
Duran reached safely on an infield single to set up bases loaded situation for DSU. Lindell recorded an RBI hit-by-pitch to score Ronke as the Trojans trail at 11-8. Brokiewicz added an RBI base-on-balls to score Pospisil as VU's lead came within two runs at 11-9.
Dakota State cut Viterbo's lead to 11-10 after Schmell recorded an RBI walk to score Kasey Randell – pinch runner for Duran. The Trojans continued their scoring surge as Rubalcava recorded an RBI hit-by-pitch to score Lindell to knot the game at 11-11 with no outs.
Kosman hit a walk-off RBI single to score Brokiewicz as the Trojans completed a huge comeback for a 12-11 victory.
Pospisil went perfect at the plate, going 4-of-4 with four singles and collected three RBIs for DSU. Kosman added a double, single and produced two RBIs. Rubalcava had a double and two RBIs. Brokiewicz and Ronke each tallied a single and an RBI. Ronke scored three times. Brokiewicz and Kosman each had two runs. Duran and Pisk each had a hit.
Dakota State swiped a total of five bases in the game. Brokiewicz had two stolen bases. Kosman, Ronke and Pospisil each swiped one base.
Ludwig was 4-of-5 at the plate with two doubles, two singles and two RBIs for VU. Lensmire and Davis each had three singles. Thur and Humphrey each added two hits. Thur registered four RBIs. Throgmorton had a double. Lensmire and Ludwig each scored three times.
The V-Hawks had 16 hits in the game compared to the Trojans 11 hits. Both teams left 10 runners on base.
Ashley Olson started the game on the mound for DSU. She allowed seven runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Shai-Lee Hill worked for one inning and gave up four runs (one unearned) on six hits. Kosman (W, 3-5) earned the victory in relief, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings. She limited the V-Hawks to three hits.
Sara Obert (L, 3-5) took the loss for VU. She pitched a total of 5 1/3 innings after being pulled out in the sixth inning and re-entering in the bottom seventh inning. She gave up seven runs (four unearned) on eight hits. She walked five DSU's batters. Caitlyn Kozik worked for two outs in relief, giving up five runs (one unearned) on three hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
