March 26, 2017
La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) could not take advantage of their fast starts Sunday at V-Hawks Softball Field, as Viterbo completed a doubleheader sweep by the score of 10-2 and 11-6. VU swept the North Star's four-game series over the Trojans.
Dakota State fell to 10-17 overall record and 3-7 North Star conference record. Viterbo raised their overall record to 7-18 and 5-5 NSAA record.
The Trojans look to bounce back in the winning column as they stay on the road for another North Star's four-game series. DSU heads to Forest City, Iowa next weekend to visit Waldorf (Iowa). The doubleheader kicks off at 3 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. next Sunday at Al Buckley Field.
Game 1 – Viterbo (Wis.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL/5 innings
Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game in the top first inning with two runs scored. Nicole Stewart drilled a double with two outs. Jasmin Lucero followed up by smashing a 2-run home run to give Trojans a 2-0 lead.
Viterbo answered back by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Lauren Davis hit an RBI double for VU's first run of the game (DSU led 2-1). Abigail Giese added a 2-RBI single to as the V-Hawks earned their first lead of the game at 3-2.
VU made it 4-2 in the bottom second inning after Tessa DeSmith hit a solo home run.
Davis had a 2-RBI single, while Bailey Thur hit a 3-run home run to highlight VU's 5-run fourth inning, extending their lead to 9-2.
Viterbo secured the game after scoring a run in the bottom fifth inning with two outs, ending the game by eight-run mercy rule.
Stewart was perfect at the plate by going 2-of-2 with a double for the Trojans. Lucero had a home run and drove in two runs.
DSU recorded a double play by Kelsey Randall and Megan Zephier.
Davis and DeSmith each went 2-of-2 at the plate for V-Hawks. Kelsey Ludwig and Kelli Anderson each added two hits. Davis and Thur each registered three RBIs. Giese had three singles and two RBIs.
VU outhit DSU 13-3 in the game.
Kelly Drake (L, 4-9) took the loss in the pitching circle after pitching 4 2/3 innings for Dakota State. She gave up 10 runs (1 unearned) on 13 hits.
Caitlyn Kozik (W, 3-4) earned the victory after tossing four innings for Viterbo. Kayla McInerney pitched a shutout fifth inning in relief.
Game 2 – Viterbo (Wis.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL
The Trojans used another fast start to open up the second game of the doubleheader Sunday. DSU scored three times in the top first inning to grab a three-run lead.
Stewart blasted a solo home run with two outs in the top first inning to give Dakota State a 1-0 lead. Lucero followed up with a single. Tatum Ronke hit a double to advance Lucero to third base. Peyton Brokiewicz produced a 2-RBI single to score Ronke and Lucero as DSU widen their lead to 3-0.
The V-Hawks responded back in the bottom half of the first inning after Davis' 3-run home run to knot the game at 3-3.
Viterbo exploded for six runs in the second inning to take a 9-3 lead.
Zephier hit a solo home run in the top fourth frame as the Trojans reduced their deficit to 9-4.
VU made it 11-4 in the bottom sixth after Austann Abbott's 2-RBI double.
The Trojans scored twice in the top seventh inning. Kayla Schmell led off with a walk. Stewart hit her second home run of the game, hitting a 2-run home run as DSU trimmed VU's lead to 11-6. The V-Hawks secured the game as Dakota State left a runner on base when the game ended.
Stewart finished the game by going 3-of-4 at the plate with two home runs and tallied three RBIs for DSU. She hit seven home runs this season, which is currently tied for third-most in the Trojan Softball record book for single-season home runs (Andrea Larsen – 2008). Brokiewicz added a double, two singles and recorded two RBIs. Ronke had a double. Zephier had a home run and an RBI. Kailee McFadden, Lucero and Emma Marsh each added a hit.
Davis had a home run, single and collected four RBIs for VU. Ludwig and Thur each added two hits. Sarah Obert, Abbott and Hannah Ludescher each had a hit. Thur and Abbott each had two RBIs.
Viterbo had 12 hits in the game compared to Dakota State 11 hits. Both teams left seven runners on base.
Kaysea Luna (L, 5-5) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She tossed two innings and allowed nine runs on eight hits. Drake worked for four innings in relief. She gave up two runs on four hits.
McInerney (W, 3-9) notched the victory for Viterbo. She tossed four innings and allowed three runs on four hits. Obert pitched three innings in relief, giving up three runs on seven hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
