April 2, 2017
Photos credits by Scott Voigt
FOREST CITY, Iowa – Dakota State's (S.D.) comeback in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball doubleheader action versus Waldorf (Iowa) Sunday at Al Buckley Field fell short by the score of 6-5. The Trojans took a 2-0 lead after three innings in the final game of the four-game series, but could not overcome a pair of 5-run innings as the Warriors secured a 10-2 victory in six innings.
Dakota State dropped their overall record to 11-19 and 4-10 record in North Star conference action. Waldorf raised their overall record to 12-12 and 7-7 record in NSAA conference games.
The Trojans stay on the road as they visit the nationally-ranked Morningside (Iowa) on Thursday. The non-conference doubleheader kick off at 3 p.m. at Jensen Complex in Sioux City, Iowa.
Game 1 – Waldorf (Iowa) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL
The Warriors plated three runs in the bottom first inning as they raced to a 3-0 lead, highlighted by Trista Bures' RBI double and Kennedy Vinchattle's 2-run home run.
Dakota State snapped their scoreless innings by answering back with three runs in the top fourth frame. Tatum Ronke reached safely on base by WU's defensive error and advanced to third. Emma Marsh recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Tatum as DSU scored its first run of the game with one out (DSU trailed 3-1).
DSU's Megan Zephier reached on base by another Warriors' defensive miscue, allowing Marsh to advance to third and Zephier to second base in the top fourth. Kailee McFadden drilled a 2-RBI double to score Marsh and Zephier as the Trojans knotted the game at 3-3.
Waldorf broke the 3-3 tie in the bottom fifth inning with three runs scored to regain their lead. Brittani Sanchez recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Taylor Navratil, who led off with a single and advanced to second after Hattie Hupke's sacrifice bunt (Navratil also swiped to third base).
The Warriors made it 5-3 after Bures hit a solo home run. Vinchattle added a double, where Mattea Lovato followed up with an RBI single to score Vinchattle to give Waldorf a 6-3 lead.
Dakota State mounted a comeback in the final inning, but fell short with two runs scored. McFadden, Kayla Schmell and Nicole Stewart kicked off the top seventh with three straight singles to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans. Jasmin Lucero reached safely at first base, but McFadden was out at home.
Ronke produced an RBI single to score Schmell as DSU trimmed their deficit to 6-4 with one out. Peyton Brokiewicz recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Stewart as WU's lead went down by one run at 6-5.
The Warriors secured the game as the Trojans left runners on second and third base when the game ended.
McFadden went 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single and drove two runs for Dakota State. Brokiewicz added a double and an RBI. Stewart and Schmell each had two singles. Marsh collected an RBI.
Vinchattle and Bures each had a home run, double and tallied two RBIs for Waldorf. Lovato added a single and an RBI. Payge Jurgens and Navratil each had a hit.
DSU outhit WU 8-7 in the game. The Warriors committed four defensive errors compared to the Trojans one error. Dakota State left eight runners on base while Waldorf had three runners left on base.
Kaysea Luna (L, 5-7) took the loss in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. Kelly Drake tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Kaylie Brindley (W, 7-6) earned a complete game victory for Waldorf. She gave up five runs (three unearned) on eight hits. She recorded five strikeouts.
Game 2 – Waldorf (Iowa) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL/6 innings
Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game in the four-game series finale in the top second inning. Ronke led off with a double. Brokiewicz reached on base by a walk. Ronke advanced to third base by WU's wild pitch. Marsh hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Ronke to give Trojans a 1-0 lead.
DSU added a run in the top third inning. McFadden reached on base-on-balls. She advanced to second base after Schmell recorded a sacrifice bunt. Stewart produced an RBI single to score McFadden as the Trojans extended their lead to 2-0.
Waldorf scored five times in the bottom fourth frame to overtake the lead at 5-2, highlighted by Jurgens' 3-run home run. The Warriors added another 5-run inning in the bottom sixth inning to secure the game, where Vinchattle hit a 3-run home run with two outs to end the game by 8-run mercy rule after five innings.
Stewart, Ronke and Brokiewicz each had a double for Dakota State. Stewart also had a single and recorded an RBI. Marsh had an RBI. McFadden swiped one base.
Vinchattle and Jurgens each hit a home run and drove in three runs for Waldof. Sanchez and Bures each had two hits and an RBI. Lovato had a single and an RBI.
WU tallied 13 hits in the game compared to DSU 4 hits. The Warriors left four runners on base while the Trojans had two runners left on base.
Both teams recorded two double plays, defensively.
Drake (L, 5-10) tossed 5 2/3 innings in loss for the Trojans. She gave up 10 runs (5 unearned) on 13 hits. She recorded three strikeouts.
McKenna Marcinkowski (W, 1-1) earned the victory after tossing five innings for the Warriors. She allowed two runs on four hits. Briley Sullivan (S, 1) recorded the save as she tossed a shutout sixth inning in relief.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
