March 10, 2017
Photo credits by Scott Voigt
TUCSON, Ariz. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned back to Tucson (Ariz.) Softball Invitational action Friday with another tripleheader at Lincoln Park North. St. Francis (Ill.), receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 national poll, used a fast start and defeated the Trojans by the score of 12-6.
Dakota State fell to 9-9 overall record. The Saints raised their overall record to 13-2.
St. Francis opened up with a 3-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to RBI singles by Kayla Garcia, Becca Stanton and Ashley Galason. The Saints made it 6-0 after Garcia's 3-run home run in the top third frame.
DSU snapped their scoring drought with two runs scored in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Tatum Ronke reached safely caused by Saints' defensive miscue. Peyton Brokiewicz followed up with a 2-run home run to cut USF's lead to 6-2.
St. Francis scored once in the top fifth and sixth inning to widen their lead to 8-2. The Saints exploded with four runs in the top seventh inning to stretch their lead to 12-2.
The Trojans answered back with four runs scored in the bottom seventh inning. Kayla Schmell and Nicole Stewart hit back-to-back singles with one out. After Jasmin Lucero fielder's choice (Stewart out at second base and advanced Schmell to third base), Ronke drilled an RBI double to score Schmell to reduce DSU's deficit to 12-3.
Dakota State added a run caused by USF's defensive error, scoring Lucero (Brokiewicz reached safely on first base and advanced Ronke to third base) in the seventh inning (USF leads 12-4). Emma Marsh reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation for DSU.
Kaysea Luna hit an RBI single to score Ronke as the Trojans trail 12-5 in the bottom seventh. Caitlin Murray added an RBI single to score Brokiewicz, but USF secured the game at 12-6 after the Trojans left two runners on base when the game ended.
Schmell was perfect at the plate by going 3-for-3 for Dakota State. Brokiewicz was 2-of-4 with a home run, single and drove in two runs. Stewart had three singles. Ronke recorded a double and an RBI. Luna and Murray each registered a hit and an RBI. Kailee McFadden and Lucero each had a single.
Garica hit two home runs in the game for the Saints. She also had a single and tallied a game-high eight RBIs. Stanton had a double, single and recorded two RBIs. Anna Wetherell, Brooke Karraker, Galason and Jensen Tchorzynski each had a hit.
Dakota State outhit St. Francis 13-11 in the game. The Saints committed three defensive errors compared to the Trojans one error. DSU left nine runners on base while USF had eight runners on base.
Luna (L, 5-1) recorded the loss, despite tossing a complete game for DSU. She allowed 12 runs (1 unearned) on 11 hits.
Taylor Barsz (W, 3-0) earned a complete game victory for St. Francis. She gave up six runs (4 unearned) on 13 hits.
Dakota State continues their action at the Tucson Softball Invitational Friday afternoon as they play Judson (Ill.).
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
