March 10, 2018

Photo credit by Scott Voigt

TUCSON, Ariz. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a big second inning offensive outburst Saturday, erasing a 3-1 early deficit into a 13-4 six-inning victory over Indiana Tech as part of the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational at Lincoln Park. 

DSU improved to 5-11 overall record after the victory.  Indiana Tech remained winless in eight games.

The Warriors raced to a 3-0 lead in the top first inning.  Bailey Dembinski led off with a triple.  Caitlyn Walter followed up with an RBI double for a 1-0 IT lead.  Ali NeNoue was hit-by-pitch and Carolyn Murrey added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation for Indiana Tech.

Emily Martin hit a 2-RBI single to extend the Warriors' lead to three runs before the Trojans retired the next three IT batters.

Dakota State answered with one run in the bottom first frame.  Melissa Krapf hit a single and swiped to second base.  Nicole Stewart drilled a double and advanced Krapf to third base.  Jasmin Lucero produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Krapf as the Trojans trailed 3-1.

DSU exploded for six runs in the bottom second inning to overtake the lead from IT.  Audrey Kosman hit a single.  She advanced to second base after Taylor Poe's sacrifice bunt.  Tatum Ronke added a single to advance Kosman to third base.

The Trojans then produced four singles from Kailee McFadden, Krapf, Lucero and Xitlali Lopez as well as a walk from Stwawrt, scoring five runs for a 6-3 lead.  Peyton Brokiewicz added an RBI ground out to score Lucero to extend DSU's lead to 7-3 in the bottom second.

Emily Martin and Marta Pasqualini hit back-to-back doubles in the top third as the Warriors trim Trojans' lead to 7-4.

DSU responded back with a run in the bottom half of the third inning, thanks to Poe's lead-off double.  She swiped to third base.  Krapf hit a two-out RBI single to score Poe for 8-4 Trojans lead.

The Trojans continued its scoring surge with two runs in the bottom fourth.  Lucero and Lopez led off with back-to-back doubles to widen DSU's lead to 9-4.  Brokiewicz followed up with a single and advanced Lopez to third base.  After Brokiewicz swiped to second base, Audrey Kosman reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.

Ronke recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Lopez to extend DSU's lead to 10-4 in the fourth inning.

Brokiewicz had a double and Poe was hit-by-pitch in the bottom sixth inning.  Ronke smashed a 3-run home run with two outs for a 13-4 victory, ending the game due to eight-run mercy rule after five innings. 

Every Dakota State batters recorded at least a hit in the game.  Ronke was 2-of-4 at the plate with a home run, single and collected four RBIs.  Krapf added three hits and two RBIs.  Lucero had two hits and three RBIs.  Lopez recorded two hits and two RBIs.  Brokiewicz registered two hits and an RBI.  McFadden, Stewart, Kosman and Poe each had a hit.

Martin was 2-of-3 at the plate with two RBIs for Indiana Tech.  Walter and Pasqualini each added a hit and an RBI.  Dembinski had a triple.  Carolyn Murrey and Ashley Alvey each had a hit.

DSU outhit IT 15-7 in the game.  The Warriors stranded nine runners on base compared to the Trojans six runners left on base.

Kelly Drake (W, 1-3) earned her first win of the season after tossing a complete game for DSU.  She allowed four runs on seven hits.  She registered four strikeouts.

Alvey (L, 0-4) recorded the loss in the pitching circle for IT.  She gave up seven runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.  Kirsten Wolf pitched for 1 2/3 innings in relief and gave up one run on two hits.  Amanda Shonka tossed 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits.

Dakota State concludes the Tucson Invitational with a contest versus Robert Morris (Ill.).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director