March 25, 2018
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) stormed back from a 9-3 deficit to tie the game in the bottom sixth inning Sunday at Presentation (S.D.) Dome, but Mayville State (N.D.) scored in the top seventh inning and held off the Trojans 10-9 in the first game of the doubleheader. DSU concluded the North Star's four-game series with a 6-0 shutout over MSU.
Dakota State improved to 8-15 overall record and 4-4 record in the North Star conference games. The Trojans took three games in the four-game series with the Comets, moving into a two-way tie for fourth in the NSAA standings with Dickinson State (N.D.). Mayville State is 7-14 overall record and 3-5 NSAA conference record (sole possession for seventh place in the standings).
Dakota State steps aside their North Star conference action with a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Trojans travel to Bishop Mueller Field for a doubleheader with Briar Cliff (Iowa) at 3 p.m.
Game 1 – Mayville State (N.D.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 9 – FINAL
Mayville State blasted a pair of 3-run home runs in the first three innings in the third game of the four-game series. Bailey Nordquist reached on base by a walk with one out and advanced to third base after a double by Shaye Kemball. AJ Tinoco smashed a 3-run home run to give MSU the first lead of the game at 3-0.
The Comets added another 3-run inning in the top third frame. Kemball hit a double with one out, while Tinoco reached on base by a walk. Danielle Sheridan followed up with a 3-run home run as Mayville State ballooned their lead to 6-0.
Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third inning. Tatum Ronke and Kailee McFadden kicked off with back-to-back singles. Both runners advanced one base after Melissa Krapf's ground out. Jasmin Lucero produced a 2-RBI single with two outs to score and Ronke as DSU trailed 6-2.
The Trojans could not convert their scoring chances in the bottom fourth frame as they left the bases full. The Comets committed two defensive errors in the inning.
Mayville State produced another three-run inning in the top fifth as they widen their lead to 9-2. Megan Rabe and Breeana Martinez each registered an RBI single. Amanda Whitley also recorded an RBI sacrifice fly for the Comets.
DSU trimmed MSU's lead down to 9-3 in the bottom fifth. Nicole Stewart led off with a double. Erin Newbury, pinch runner for Stewart, advanced to third base after a ground out by Lucero. Xitlali Lopez reached on base by MSU's defensive miscue, recording an RBI to score Newbury.
Dakota State mounted a furious comeback in the bottom half of the sixth inning. McFadden was hit-by-pitch to start the bottom sixth. Melissa Krapf hit a single and advanced McFadden to second base. Stewart followed up with an RBI double to score McFadden as the Trojans trailed 9-4.
DSU continued its scoring outburst with a 2-RBI double by Lucero as the Comets' lead went down by three runs at 9-6 in the bottom sixth inning. The Trojans reduced their deficit to 9-7 after Peyton Brokiewicz's RBI single to score Lucero with one out. Brokiewicz was forced out at second base after Audrey Kosman fielder's choice.
Taylor Poe hit a single to advance Kosman to second base with two outs in the bottom sixth frame. Ronke drilled a 2-RBI double to score Kosman and Poe, tying the game at 9-9. On the same play, MSU halted DSU's scoring surge after tagging out Ronke on third base.
Mayville State regained their lead in the top seventh inning with a run scored. Whitley reached on base by a fielder's choice. Martinez hit a double and advanced Whitley to third base. Jade Ledochowski, pinch hitter for Jolene Ruiz, produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Whitley for 10-9 Comets lead.
DSU attempted to make a comeback in the bottom half of the seventh inning. McFadden led off with a single. Krapf reached on first base by a fielder's choice, while McFadden was safe on the same play after MSU committed a defensive error.
McFadden was forced out at third base after a fielder's choice to shortstop by Stewart for DSU in the bottom seventh (Krapf advanced to second base). Lucero hit a ground out to third base as Krapf advanced to third and Stewart to second base.
Mayville State halted Dakota State's scoring opportunity as Lopez hit a pop-up fly ball to second base.
Stewart finished the game by going 3-of-5 at the plate with two doubles, single and an RBI for the Trojans. Lucero added a double, single and tallied four RBIs. Ronke had a double, single and two RBIs. McFadden and Poe each recorded two hits. Brokiewicz had a hit and an RBI.
Kemball went 3-of-3 with three doubles and three runs scored for the Comets. Tinoco added a home run, single, two RBIs and scored three times. Sheridan had a home run and three RBIs. Rabe and Martinez each registered two hits and an RBI. Whitley had a double and an RBI.
DSU outhit MSU 13-11 in the game. The Comets committed four defensive errors compared to the Trojans one defensive miscue. Dakota State left 11 runners on base, while Mayville State had six runners left on base.
Kosman worked the first five innings of the game in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She allowed nine runs on nine hits. She struck out four MSU's batters. Kelly Drake (L, 2-5) recorded the loss despite giving up a run on two hits in final two innings of the game.
Kemball started the game and pitched five-plus innings for Mayville State. She gave up six runs on eight hits. Haley Kravetz earned the victory after tossing two innings in relief. She allowed three runs on five hits.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Mayville State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL
Dakota State scored at least a run in the first four innings in the North Star's 4-game series finale, shutting down Mayville State 6-0. The Comets were held to just three hits in the game.
The Trojans opened up with a 1-0 lead in the bottom first inning, thanks to Stewart's RBI double to score Krapf who hit a single with one out.
Kosman hit a double in the bottom second for DSU. Ronke reached safely to third base after a missed catch fly ball by the Comets, allowing Kosman to score for Trojans' 2-0 lead.
Dakota State made it 3-0 after Lopez's RBI single to score Lucero, who hit a double with two outs in the third frame.
The Trojans produced three singles in the bottom fourth by Kosman, McFadden and Krapf. Krapf earned an RBI to score Kosman to expand DSU's lead to 4-0.
Ronke smashed a solo home run in the bottom sixth inning to make it 5-0 in favor of Dakota State. It was her sixth home run of the season.
DSU added another run in the bottom sixth after Stewart's RBI double to score Krapf (who reached on base by a fielder's choice).
Mayville State left a runner on second base (Ledochowski's double) as Dakota State secured the victory.
McFadden, Krapf, Stewart, Lopez and Kosman each had two hits in the game for the Trojans. Stewart drove in two runs. Ronke had a home run. Krapf, Lopez and Ronke each had an RBI. Kosman swiped one base.
Dakota State, which registered 12 hits in the game, had five doubles in the game, led by Stewart with two doubles. Kosman, Lopez and Luerco each added a double
Ledochowski recorded a double for the Comets. Kemball and Martinez each added a single.
Lopez (W, 6-2) tossed a complete game shutout for Dakota State. She limited the Comets to three hits and recorded three stirkeouts.
Kravetz (L, 4-7) recorded the loss after pitching six innings for Mayville State. She gave up six runs (one unearned) on 12 hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
