February 23, 2018
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned back to Presentation (S.D.) Dome for the third straight weekend, opening up a rare North Star Athletic Association Softball conference season Friday afternoon. Bellevue (Neb.), the North Star Softball regular-season defending champion, swept a pair of games over the Trojans by the scores of 3-2 and 11-2.
Dakota State fell to 2-6 overall record and 0-2 record in league play. Bellevue, receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 national poll, improved lifted their overall record to 5-1 and 2-0 record in NSAA.
The Trojans continue their North Star action Saturday as they face Waldorf (Iowa) in a doubleheader. First game is slated for 10 a.m. at Presentation Dome.
Game 1 – (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
Bellevue jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings and held off Dakota State 3-2 in the North Star conference season opener's for both teams.
Erin Sharpe hit a solo home run to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the bottom first inning.
The Bruins added two runs in the bottom second caused by Trojans' defensive miscues, extending BU's lead to 3-0.
Dakota State got on board in the top third inning with a pair of runs. Tatum Ronke was hit-by-pitch. She swiped to second base. Melissa Krapf produced an RBI single to score Ronke as DSU trimmed Bruins' lead to 3-1 (Krapf advanced to second base on the throw).
The Trojans cut their deficit to 3-2 as Nicole Stewart followed up with an RBI double to score Krapf in the top third frame.
DSU could not convert their scoring chance to tie the game in the top fourth, despite a lead-off double by Xitlali Lopez. The Bruins had a bases loaded situation in the bottom half of the fourth inning, but the Trojans prevented the Bruins to score.
Bellevue secured the game by retiring the final three DSU's batters in the top seventh inning.
Krapf was perfect at the plate, going 2-of-2 with an RBI, walk and a run scored for Dakota State. Stewart had a double and an RBI. Lopez added a double. Kailee McFadden recorded a single. Ronke swiped one base.
Sharpe was 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, single and an RBI for Bellevue. Emily Gigax hit two doubles. Grace Glotfelty reached on base by a walk three times. Sarah Zeleny and Kaitlyn Kinman each had a hit.
The Bruins outhit the Trojans 6-5 in the game. The Trojans recorded two defensive errors compared to the Bruins' no defensive miscues.
BU left seven runners on base compared to DSU five runners left on base.
Audrey Kosman (L, 0-2) took the loss in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She worked for four innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Kelly Drake tossed two scoreless innings, limiting the Bruins to one hit.
Sharpe (W, 2-0) earned the victory after pitching four innings for Bellevue. She gave up two runs on three hits. She struck out seven DSU's batters. Emily Rochford (S, 1) earned the save after tossing two scoreless innings, giving up two hits.
Game 2 – (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
Dakota State trailed 2-1 after four innings in the second game of the doubleheader with Bellevue. The Bruins outscored the Trojans 9-1 in the final three innings to post an 11-2 win for a doubleheader sweep.
Glotfelty led off the Bruins with a solo home run to open up the game with a 1-0 lead in the top first. BU extended their lead to 2-0 after Gigax's RBI single in the top third frame.
DSU's Stewart blasted a solo home run on a 1-1 count to lead off the bottom fourth inning, cutting Bruins' lead to 2-1. It was her second home run this season for the Trojans.
Bellevue exploded for four runs in the top fifth inning for a 6-1 lead, highlighted by Glotfelty's 2-RBI double.
The Bruins added five runs in the top seventh frame. Gigax hit a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. Sharpe blasted a 2-run home run to balloon their lead to 11-1.
Dakota State scored once in the bottom seventh. Peyton Brokiewicz drilled a triple down the right field line. She scored caused by BU catcher Sayde Woten's passed ball (DSU trailed 11-2).
Stewart led the Trojans with a home run and an RBI. Brokiewicz added a triple. McFadden, Krapf, Hailey Gukeisen, Taylor Poe and Ronke each tallied a hit.
Glotfelty was 3-of-5 at the plate with a home run, double, single and collected four RBIs for the Bruins. Sharpe added a home run, single, two RBIs and recorded three walks. Gigax had a home run, single and two RBIs. Michaela Miller registered a single and an RBI.
BU outhit DSU 12-7 in the game. The Bruins left eight runners on base, while the Trojans had four runners left on base.
Stefani Gollin (L, 0-2) recorded the loss on the pitching bound for Dakota State. She pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up six runs (one unearned) on eight hits. She struck out four BU's batters. Lopez tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing five runs on four hits.
Lexi LeCalsey (W, 3-0) earned a complete game victory for Bellevue. She limited DSU to two runs on seven hits and recorded four strikeouts.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
