February 11, 2018

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The North Star Athletic Association's (NSAA) softball conference preseason favorite Jamestown (N.D.) and Dakota State (S.D.) battle back-and-forth in the final game of the Presentation (S.D.) Softball Dome Tournament Sunday evening.  The Jimmies held off the Trojans by the score of 10-9 in a non-conference contest.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 0-3.  Jamestown, receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll and qualified for the NAIA Softball National Tournament last season, lifted their overall record to 4-1.

Emma Keller led off the game with a solo home run to give Jimmies a 1-0 lead.  Morgan Geiszler followed up with a double, while Kelly Halverson hit a single to advance Geiszler to third base.  UJ made it 2-0 after Meghan Ramage hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Geiszler.

Jamestown produced three singles to produce one run, increasing their lead to 3-0 in the top second inning after Keller's RBI single.  Geiszler smashed a 3-run home run as the Jimmies capped a four-run second inning for a 6-0 lead.

The Trojans answered back with three runs scored in the bottom half of the second inning.  Jasmin Lucero led off with a single and advanced to home after Xitlali Lopez's RBI double to deep down the right field. 

Dakota State cut Jamestown's lead to 6-3 after Peyton Brokiewicz's 2-run home run in the bottom second.

DSU added three runs in the bottom third inning to tie the game at 6-6, thanks to back-to-back doubles by Lopez (2 RBI) and Brokiewicz (1 RBI).

Jamestown regained their lead with a run scored in the top fourth inning.  After the first two outs were recorded, Geiszler hit a double.  Halverson followed up with an RBI single to score Geiszler for UJ 7-6 lead.

Pinch hitter Mikayla Frost led off the fifth inning with a solo home run as Jamestown extended their lead to 8-6.  The Jimmies then scored two more runs after Keller's 2-RBI double to expand their lead to 10-6.

The Trojans scored once in the bottom fifth to cut UJ's lead to 10-7.  Nicole Stewart hit a single and advanced to third base after Lopez's double with two outs.  Brokiewicz produced an RBI single to score Stewart.

DSU added a run in the bottom sixth frame caused by UJ's miscue, trailing 10-8.  Stewart added an RBI double as the Trojans cut Jimmies' lead to one run at 10-9.

Dakota State's comeback fell short as they left a runner on first base when the game ended.

Brokiewicz finished the game by going 4-of-4 at the plate with a double, three singles and drove in four runs for the Trojans.  Lopez added three doubles and collected three RBIs.  Melissa Krapf and Stewart each registered two hits.  Kailee McFadden, Lucero and Taylor Poe each had a hit.

Stewart, Lucero and Lopez each scored twice in the game for DSU.  Brokiewicz swiped one base.

Keller and Geiszler went 6-of-10 combined at the plate with three doubles, five runs scored and drove in seven runs for Jamestown.  Miriah Yoder added two hits.  Frost had a home run.  Caitlyn Courtney, Samm Hamilton and Allie McCain each had a hit.

Both teams recorded 14 hits in the game.  The Trojans left five runners on base, while the Jimmies had four runners left on base.

Audrey Kosman (L, 0-1) recorded the loss for DSU.  She worked for 4 2/3 innings and allowed 10 runs on 14 hits.  Kelly Drake retired the final seven UJ batters in 2 1/3 innings in relief.

Keller (W, 1-0) earned the victory for Jamestown.  She pitched four innings and gave up six runs on seven hits.  Toree Rensmon tossed the fifth inning and allowed one run on four hits.  Jasmine Pipella (S, 1) earned the save, despite giving up two runs (one unearned) on three hits in the final two innings.

Dakota State returns back to the PC Softball Dome for another three games next Sunday.  The Trojans play York (Neb.) at 12 p.m., Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and Mount Marty (S.D.) in Aberdeen. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director