March 24, 2018
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) had to use a pair of big sixth-inning comebacks Saturday afternoon, earning the North Star Athletic Association Softball conference sweep over Mayville State (N.D.) at Presentation (S.D.) Dome. The Trojans recorded its first doubleheader sweep of the season with 4-1 and 6-5 victories over the Comets.
Dakota State raised their overall record to 7-14 and 3-3 record in North Star contests. Mayville State fell to 6-13 overall record and 2-4 NSAA conference record.
Both teams will conclude their North Star's 4-game series Sunday at PC Dome. First game is set for 10 a.m.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Mayville State (N.D.) 1 – FINAL
Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game in the second inning of the first game, while Mayville State tied the game in the top sixth inning. The Trojans exploded for three runs in the bottom sixth and secured with a 4-1 victory.
Jasmin Lucero blast a lead-off triple in the bottom second frame for the Trojans. Xitlali Lopez followed up with an RBI double to score Lucero for DSU 1-0 lead.
AJ Tinoco smashed a solo home run with one out as the Comets knotted the game at 1-1 in the top sixth inning.
DSU's offense racked up a total of three runs in the bottom sixth inning. Lucero started the bottom sixth after being hit-by-pitch. Lopez followed up with a single and advanced Lucero to second base. A passed ball by MSU allowed Lucero and Lopez advance one base.
With one out in the bottom sixth, Audrey Kosman bunted the ball and reached the base by a fielder's choice. On the same play, Lucero was safe at home after MSU committed a defensive error after their tag-out attempt as DSU regained their lead at 2-1 (Lopez advanced to third base).
Taylor Poe added an RBI fielder's choice to score Lopez as the Trojans widen their lead to 3-1 in the bottom sixth. Tatum Ronke hit a single to advance Poe to third base.
Dakota State made it 4-1 in the bottom sixth after Kailee McFadden's RBI single to score Poe.
Mayville State went three quick outs in the final inning as the Trojans secured the victory.
Lopez was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, single and drove in an RBI for the Trojans. Krapf added a double and single. McFadden tallied a single and an RBI. Lucero registered a triple and scored twice. Ronke had a hit. Poe collected an RBI.
The Comets were held to three hits in the game. Tinoco was 2-of-2 with a home run, single and an RBI. Kiana Ishikawa added a single. She also swiped one base.
DSU left eight runners on base compared to MSU six runners left on base.
Lopez (W, 5-2) tossed a complete game victory for Dakota State. She yielded one run on three hits. She struck out seven Comets' batters.
Shaye Kemball (L, 3-7) recorded the loss after pitching six innings for Mayville State. She allowed four runs (three unearned) on nine hits.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Mayville State (N.D.) 5 – FINAL
Dakota State earned a 3-0 lead after four innings before Mayville State scored five unanswered runs to grab a 5-3 lead in the second game of the four-game series. The Trojans used another big sixth inning comeback and held off the Comets by the score of 6-5.
DSU earned the first lead of the game in the bottom second inning. Peyton Brokiewicz hit a double with one out. She advanced to third base after Kosman's single to left field. Poe produced an RBI ground out to score Brokiewicz for Trojans' 1-0 lead.
The Comets threaten to score in the top third inning, but they left runners on third and second base despite back-to-back walks by Kemball and AJ Tinoco with one out.
Dakota State prevented Mayville State from scoring after Jade Ledochowski's lead-off double in the top fourth inning. MSU could not score as they left runners on third and first.
The Trojans scored twice in the bottom half of the fourth inning, thanks to their four consecutive hits with one out. Lopez extended her hitting streak to 12 games after hitting a single. Brokiewicz drilled a double to advance Lopez to third base. Kosman and Poe hit back-to-back RBI singles to balloon DSU's lead to 3-0.
After the first two outs recorded in the top fifth inning, Danielle Sheridan and Amanda Whitley each reached on base by a walk for the Comets. Ledochowski hit an RBI single to score Sheridan as MSU trimmed DSU's lead to 3-1. Jolene Ruiz added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs, but the Trojans' defense prevented them from scoring.
Mayville State mounted a comeback in the top sixth inning after plating four runs. Ishikawa hit a double with one out. Kemball reached on base by a walk. Tinoco blasted a 3-run home run as the Comets overtook a 4-3 lead.
MSU added a run to widen their lead by two runs. Sheridan hit a single. Ledochowski recorded a two-out RBI double to score Sheridan as the Comets expanded their lead to 5-3.
Dakota State made a furious comeback in the bottom sixth frame to regain their lead. Lopez led off with a single. Brokiewicz added a single and advance Erin Newbury, pinch runner for Lopez, to second base. Kosman reached on base by a fielder's choice while Newbury was forced out on third base (Brokiewicz advanced to third base).
Poe smashed an RBI double to score Brokiewicz as the Trojans trailed at 5-4 (Kosman advanced to third) in the bottom sixth.
McFadden hit a two-out go-ahead 2-RBI single to score Kosman and Poe as Dakota State rallied back for a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning.
DSU's Lopez came in the final inning and retired all three MSU batters, securing a doubleheader sweep.
The Trojans outhit the Comets 10-7 in the game.
Brokiewicz was 3-of-3 at the plate with two doubles, single and scored three runs for Dakota State. Poe added a double, single and drove in three runs. Kosman registered two singles and an RBI. McFadden had a single and tallied two RBIs. Lopez had two singles.
Ledochowski was 3-of-4 with two doubles, single and drove in two runs for Mayville State. Tinoco added a home run (two home runs for the day) and collected three RBIs. Ishikawa had a double. Kemball, Tinoco and Sierra Niedge each reached on base by a walk two times.
MSU left 11 runners on base, while reaching on base by a walk nine times. DSU had five runners let on base.
Stefani Gollin started the game in the pitching circle for the Trojans. She worked for five innings and limited the Comets to one hit on three hits. She recorded three strikeouts. Kelly Drake (W, 2-4) earned the victory, despite giving up four runs on four hits in the sixth inning. Lopez (S, 1) earned the save in relief after pitching a shutout sixth inning.
Haley Kravetz (L, 3-6) recorded the defeat after pitching six innings for the Comets. She allowed six runs on 10 hits. She registered three strikeouts.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
