February 24, 2018
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Waldorf (Iowa) and Dakota State (S.D.) each took advantage of the fast start Saturday in the North Star Softball Crossover at Presentation (S.D.) Dome. The Warriors jumped to a 4-0 lead for an 8-2 victory in the first game, as the Trojans raced to a 4-0 lead in the second game of the doubleheader for an 8-2 win to gain a split.
Dakota State is 3-7 overall record and 1-3 record in North Star conference play. Waldorf is 1-5 overall record and 1-1 NSA conference record.
The Trojans will return back to action on March 5 as they kick off their eight-game schedule in the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational. DSU plays Fisher (Mass.) and No. 11-ranked Saint Francis (Ind.) on the first day of the tournament.
Game 1 – Waldorf (Iowa) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
Waldorf (Iowa) outscored Dakota State (S.D.) 4-1 in each of the first two innings for an 8-2 lead. The Warriors limited the Trojans to just two hits in the game, securing WU's victory in their North Star conference opener.
Peyton Arenson hit a 2-run home run to open up with a 2-0 lead for the Warriors in the top first frame. Madison Mason added an RBI single to make it 3-0 in favor of WU. Payge Jurgens stole for home to expand Warriors' lead to 4-0.
DSU answered with a run in the bottom first inning. Melissa Krapf drilled a triple with one out. Nicole Stewart produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Krapf for Trojans' first run of the game (DSU trailed 4-1).
Jurgens blasted a grand slam with two outs as Waldorf ballooned their lead to 8-1 in the top second.
Peyton Brokiewicz smashed a solo home run with one out in the bottom second as the Trojans cut Warriors' lead to 8-2.
Neither teams could score for the rest of the game, securing the victory for the Warriors.
Brokiewicz had a home run and an RBI for Dakota State. Krapf added a triple and a run score. Stewart registered an RBI.
Arenson was 3-of-3 at the plate with a home run, double, single and drove in two runs. Jurgens added a grand slam, single and collected four RBIs. Taylor Bell had two hits. Kennedy Vinchattle, Lauren Hein, Mason and Taylor Navratil each recorded a hit.
Waldorf outhit Dakota State 11-2 in the game. The Warriors left eight runners on base while the Trojans did not leave a runner on base.
Kelly Drake (L, 0-2) recorded the loss in the pitching circle for DSU. She worked for 5 1/3 innings and gave up seven runs (one unearned) on 11 hits. She registered three strikeouts. Audrey Kosman shut down the Warriors in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Kaylie Brindley (W, 1-2) earned a complete game victory for WU. She limited the Trojans to two runs on two hits.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 8, Waldorf (Iowa) 2 – FINAL
Dakota State (S.D.) exploded for four runs in the opening inning in the second game over Waldorf (Iowa).
Kailee McFadden started the game with a hit-by-pitch. Krapf followed up with a single and advanced McFadden to second base. After Stewart's ground out to advance McFadden to third and Krapf to second, Jasmin Lucero recorded a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.
Xitlali Lopez blasted a 2-RBI double to score McFadden and Krapf for DSU 2-0 lead in the top second (Lucero advanced to third). Brokiewicz followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Lucero to extend Trojans' lead to 3-0.
Kosman added an RBI double to score Lopez to balloon DSU's lead to 4-0 with two outs in the top first.
Dakota State scored once in the top fourth frame, thanks to Tatum Ronke's double to deep left field. McFadden produced an RBI single to score Taylor Poe (who reached on base by fielder's choice after Kosman's single – Kosman was forced out on second base) for 5-0 lead in favor of the Trojans (Ronke was thrown out at home).
The Warriors snapped their scoring drought with a run scored in the bottom half of the fourth inning, caused by DSU's defensive error (DSU led 5-1).
Arenson recorded an RBI single as the Warriors trailed 5-2 in the bottom fifth inning.
DSU scored twice in the top sixth inning. Brokiewicz led off with a double. She advanced to third after Kosman's ground out. Poe registered an RBI ground out to score Brokiewicz as Trojans extended their lead to 6-2.
Dakota State made it 7-2 after Ronke followed up with a solo home run with two outs in the top sixth.
Stewart and Lucero hit back-to-back singles with one out in the top seventh frame for DSU. Stewart was tagged out at third base and advanced Lucero to second base after a passed ball by WU. Lopez hit an RBI single to score Lucero to expand DSU's lead to 8-2, securing the victory.
Lopez was 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single and drove in three RBIs for Dakota State. Ronke added a home run, double and an RBI. McFadden and Brokiewicz each had a hit and an RBI. Kosman recorded two hits and an RBI. Stewart had two singles. Lucero and Krapf each tallied a single.
Hattie Hupke, Arenson, Jurgens, Bree Hamlin and Navratil each had single for Waldorf. Arenson and Lauren Hein each produced an RBI.
DSU outhit WU 12-5 in the game. The Warriors left five runners on base, while the Trojans had four runners left on base.
Lopez (W, 2-1) tossed a complete game victory for Dakota State. She allowed two runs on five hits. She recorded three strikeouts.
McKenna Marcinkowski (L, 0-2) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for Waldorf. She gave up seven runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Jessica Whittaker pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
