March 9, 2018
Photo credit by Scott Voigt
TUCSON, Ariz. – Aquinas (Mich.) scored five unearned runs Friday afternoon as they held on to defeat Dakota State (S.D.) 5-3 as part of the Tucson (Ariz.) Softball Invitational at Lincoln Park. The Saints scored five runs in the third and fourth innings and prevented Trojans' comeback late in the game.
Dakota State fell to 4-11 overall record. Aquinas improved to 13-6 overall record.
Both teams were unable to score in the first two innings. After the first two outs were recorded in the top third inning, Leigha Morse hit a single for the Saints. Morgan Giddings reached on base by DSU's defensive error and advanced Morse to third base (Giddings advanced to second base on the same play).
Kayli Bowen produced a 2-RBI single to score Giddings and Morse to give AU a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
The Saints poured in three more runs in the top fourth inning, extending their lead by five runs. Alex Forsythe led off with a single. She swiped to second base. Kristen Kimball reached on base by Trojans' defensive miscue and scored Kimball for AU 3-0 lead. Brooke Wila followed up with an RBI triple to score Kimball to make it 4-0 in favor of the Saints.
Giddings hit an RBI single with two outs and scored Wila as Aquinas ballooned their lead to 5-0 in the top fourth.
Dakota State answered with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The Trojans hit three consecutive singles by Audrey Kosman, Taylor Poe and Tatum Ronke to set up a bases loaded situation with one out.
Kailee McFadden hit an RBI single to score Kosman for Trojans' first run of the game in the bottom fourth (DSU trailed 5-1). Melissa Krapf continued its offensive outburst with another RBI single to score Poe as Dakota State cut Aquinas' lead to 5-2.
Ronke scored on a wild pitch as DSU trailed 5-3 in the bottom fourth. The Saints halted the Trojans from scoring as DSU left three runners on base when the fourth inning ended.
Dakota State left one runner on base in the final inning as they fell short to Aquinas.
Krapf went 2-of-4 at the plate with a triple, single and drove in two runs for the Trojans. Kosman, Ronke, Xitlali Lopez and Nicole Stewart each added two singles. Poe, Jasmin Lucero and McFadden each had a hit.
Wila registered a triple, single and tallied two RBIs for the Saints. Bowen added two hits and two RBIs. Carrie Mesman and Forsythe each had two hits.
DSU outhit AU 13-12 in the game. The Trojans committed two defensive errors while the Saints did not have a miscue. Dakota State left ten runners on base compared to Aquinas nine runners left on base.
Lopez (L, 4-2) tossed a complete game, despite the loss in the pitching circle for the Trojans. She gave up five unearned runs on 12 hits. She recorded three strikeouts.
Mandy Rosol (W, 6-1) earned the victory after working three innings for the Saints. She allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out three DSU's batters. Mia Loya pitched four innings in relief.
Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column Saturday as they conclude the Tucson Invitational, playing Indiana Tech and Robert Morris (Ill.). Both games will be at Lincoln Park Field No. 6.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
