February 12, 2017
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a fast start Sunday afternoon to kick off their 2017 softball campaign with a 9-3 rout over long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan at Presentation (S.D.) Softball Dome Tournament. It was the first time since 2012 that the Trojans recorded its season-opening softball win.
Dakota Wesleyan finished with a 1-4 record in the two-day Presentation Softball Dome Tournament. The Trojans halted their five-game losing skid in the series meeting with DWU, with the last win coming on April 8, 2010 in Mitchell, S.D.
The Trojans produced four runs in the opening innings, storming to a 4-0 lead. Peyton Brokiewicz led off by being hit-by-pitch. She swiped to second base. Kayla Schmell followed that with an RBI double to score Brokiewicz to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
Nicole Stewart hit a single and advanced Schmell to third base for Dakota State. DSU made it 2-0 after Jasmin Lucero recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Schmell. Tatum Ronke blasted a 2-run home run with two outs, fueling to a 4-0 lead.
Melsia Ortega hit a solo home run in the bottom first frame as DWU trimmed DSU's lead to 4-1.
The Tigers made it 4-2 in the bottom second inning after Alize Martinez's two-out RBI single to score Elisa Sutherland, who had a double.
Dakota State put together 3-run third inning offensive explosion to balloon their lead to 7-2. Jasmin Lucero hit a single with one out, followed by another single by Audrey Kosman. The Tigers committed a wild pitch to advance Lucero to third and Kosman to second base.
Emma Marsh hit an RBI double to score Lucero for DSU's 5-2 lead (Kosman advanced to third base). Kaysea Luna produced a 2-RBI single to score Kosman and Marsh as the Trojans' lead grew by five runs.
DSU added a run in the top fourth inning. Brokiewicz led off with a single and advanced to second base after DWU's wild pitch. She advanced to third after Schmell's ground out. After Stewart reached on base by a walk, Lucero produced an RBI ground out to score Brokiewicz to extend Trojans' lead to 8-2.
Dakota State made it 9-2 when Stewart recorded an RBI single to score Brokiewicz in the top sixth inning.
With bases loaded in the bottom sixth inning, the Tigers only produced one run after Sierra Haage recorded an RBI base-on-balls. The Tigers left three runners on base by the end of the sixth inning, securing a 9-3 lead for the Trojans.
DSU closed the game in the bottom seventh inning as DWU left two runners on base.
Every Trojan starter had at least a hit in the game. Brokiewicz, Stewart and Marsh each had two hits. Schmell added a double and an RBI. Lucero had a single and two RBIs. Ronke hit a home run and tallied two RBIs. Luna had a hit and two RBIs.
Brokiewicz swiped two bases for Dakota State.
Claudia Nixon went 2-of-3 at the plate for the Tigers. Haage, Martinez and Ortega each added a hit and an RBI. Sutherland had a double.
DSU outhit DWU 12-9 in the game. The Tigers left 13 runners on base compared to the Trojans four runners left on base.
Luna (W, 1-0) earned the pitching victory on the mound for Dakota State. She pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. She struck out four DWU's batters. Kosman worked for 1 2/3 innings in relief and limited the Tigers to two hits.
Andrea Konz (L, 0-1) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs on eight hits for Dakota Wesleyan. Lorissa Loeppky tossed 4 1/3 innings in relief and allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
