March 6, 2017
TUCSON, Ariz. – Trailing 7-4 in the top seventh inning Monday evening in the Tucson (Ariz.) Softball Invitational at Lincoln Park North Field, Dakota State (S.D.) roared back after plating four runs and held off Madonna (Mich.) for an 8-7 victory. The Trojans bounced back in the winning column after losing to Aquinas (Mich.) 13-3 in five innings (no statistics available from that game, DSU also played an exhibition game versus Douglas, B.C. following Aquinas' game).
Dakota State improved their overall record to 8-6. Madonna, receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 national poll, fell to 5-5 overall record.
The Crusaders opened the game with an early lead in the bottom half of the first inning. Morgan Kaiser led off with a single. She swiped to second base. Mikey Kish hit a ground out to third base and advanced Kaiser to third base. Nicky Salloum produced an RBI single to score Kasier to give MU a 1-0 lead.
DSU scored twice in the top third frame to overtake the lead from Madonna. The Trojans hit three consecutive singles from Kailee McFadden, Peyton Brokiewicz and Kayla Schmell to set up a bases loaded situation with one out. Nicole Stewart blast a 2-RBI double to score McFadden and Brokiewicz to give Dakota State a 2-1 lead.
The Crusaders snapped their scoring drought with four runs scored in the bottom fifth inning to regain their lead at 5-2.
Dakota State answered back with two runs scored in the top sixth inning. Emma Marsh reached on base caused by MU's defensive miscue. Tatum Ronke followed that up with a double to advance Kasey Randell – pinch runner for Marsh – to third base.
After a pitching change for Madonna, Randall scored home after a wild pitch committed by the Crusaders as DSU trailed 5-3. Kelly Drake recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Ronke to cut MU's lead to 5-4.
Bri Giordano and Kyla Rebain hit back-to-back RBI singles to extend Madonna's lead to 7-4 in the bottom half of the sixth frame.
The Trojans made a furious comeback in the final inning after producing four runs to grab a one-run lead. Schmell led off with a single, followed by Stewart's single to advance Schmell to second base. Jasmin Lucero smashed a 2-RBI double to score Schmell and Stewart as the Trojans reduced their deficit to 7-6.
Ronke blasted a 2-run homerun to left field with one out to give Dakota State an 8-7 lead in the top seventh inning.
Madonna left runners on third and first bases as the Trojans secured the game, closing the game by a ground out to pitcher by Kerstyn Comerzan.
Ronke was 2-of-4 at the plate with a home run, double and drove in two runs for DSU. Stewart was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, two singles and produced two RBIs. Lucero had a double and two RBIs. McFadden and Schmell each had two singles. Brokiewicz registered a hit.
Dakota State's defense recorded two double plays in the game.
Giordano was 4-of-4 at the plate with four singles and two RBIs for the Crusaders. Kasier, Salloum and Breanna Keethler each had two hits. Rebain, Bria Debono and Becky Giacobbi each collected a hit and an RBI.
MU outhit DSU 13-11 in the game. The Crusaders left 12 runners on base compared to the Trojans 6 runners let on base. Dakota State committed six defensive errors compared to Madonna two defensive errors.
Drake (W, 3-3) tossed a complete game victory in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She allowed seven runs (1 unearned) on 13 hits.
Paige Montague started the game and pitched five-plus innings for Madonna. She gave up four runs (1 unearned) on six hits. Madisen Henry worked for one-plus inning and allowed two runs on three hits. Erin Combs (L, 3-2) took the loss as she gave up two runs on two hits in the final inning.
Dakota State will take a day off before returning back to action for a tripleheader on Wednesday. The Trojans play Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) at 10 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (MT), Hiram (Ohio) at 12 noon (CT)/11 a.m. (MT) and Concordia (Neb.) at 4:30 p.m. (CT)/3:30 p.m. (MT) in the Tucson Invitational on Field #7 at Lincoln Park North.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
