April 21, 2018
DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) had to use a pair of late-game comebacks Saturday afternoon to complete a key North Star Athletic Association Softball doubleheader over Dakota State (S.D.) at North Softball Complex. The Trojans rallied back for a 7-6 lead in the first game, but the Blue Hawks scored twice in the bottom seventh inning for an 8-6 victory. DiSU erased a 7-4 deficit in the second game, outscoring the Trojans 6-0 in the final two-and-half innings for a 10-7 victory.
Dakota State fell to 17-22 overall record and 11-11 record in North Star conference play. Dickinson State lifted their overall record to 21-16 and 12-8 record in league play.
Both teams will play another key North Star doubleheader Sunday afternoon with the first game starting at 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time).
Game 1 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 7 – FINAL
Dickinson State opened up with a 5-0 lead after three innings of the first game, but Dakota State rallied back to take the lead in the top seventh inning. The Blue Hawks answered back with two runs in the bottom seventh inning to hold off the Trojans.
The Blue Hawks jumped to a 3-run lead in the opening inning. Rachael Dillion and Claire Shoffit each reached on base by a walk. Kayla Stephens smashed a 3-run home run with two outs as DiSU grabbed a 3-0 lead.
Dickinson State scored once in the bottom second frame. Emilee Sickler led off with a walk. Dillon followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Sickler to second base. Mariah Gamboa produced an RBI double to score Sickler, ballooning DiSU's lead to 4-0.
Shoffit led off with a walk in the bottom third inning for the Blue Hawks. Samantha Hardwick, pinch runner for Shoffit, swiped to second base. Rayleen Ortiz hit an RBI two-out double to score Hardwick to extend Dickinson State's lead to 5-0.
Dakota State snapped their scoring drought after plating three runs in the top fourth inning. Taylor Poe and Tatum Ronke hit back-to-back singles. Reanna Fitzgearld hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Poe to third base and Ronke to second base.
Kailee McFadden recorded an RBI single to score Poe as the Trojans trailed 5-1 in the top fourth inning with one out (Ronke advanced to third base). Melissa Krapf hit an RBI ground out to score Ronke to reduce DSU's deficit to 5-2 (McFadden advanced to second base).
Peyton Brokiewicz reached on base caused by DiSU's defensive error and allowed McFadden to score as the Trojans cut Blue Hawks' lead to 5-3 in the top fourth.
Sonja Lawrence hit a single with two outs in the bottom half of the fourth inning for Dickinson State. She swiped to second base. Shoffit followed up with an RBI single to score Lawrence, extending DiSU's lead to 6-3.
Dakota State added a run in the top fifth inning, thanks to a lead-off double by Audrey Kosman. Kosman advanced to third base after a ground out to second base. Fitzgearld hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Kosman as the Trojans trailed 6-4 in the fifth.
Krapf started the top sixth inning with a double for DaSU. Brokiewicz and Xitlali Lopez recorded back-to-back walks to set up a bases loaded situation. Jasmin Lucero recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Krapf as DaSU cut DiSU's lead to 6-5.
Dakota State mounted a comeback in the top seventh inning with two runs scored for their first lead of the game. Poe led off with a single. Fitzgerald added a single with one out and advanced Poe to second base. McFadden reached on base by a fielder's choice as Poe was forced out at third base (Fitzgerald advanced to third base).
Krapf hit a single with two outs to set up a bases loaded situation in the top seventh for the Trojans. Brokiewicz hit a two-RBI single to score Fitzgerald and McFadden as DaSU earned a 7-6 lead.
Stephens led off the bottom seventh with a single for the Blue Hawks. She advanced to second base after a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Dobitz. Ortiz hit a single to advance Stephens to third base (Ortiz advanced to second base on the same play by a throw).
Andrea Rodriguez followed up with a single to score Stephens as Dickinson State knotted the game at 7-7. Sickler hit a walk-off RBI single to score Ortiz as the Blue Hawks secured the game at 8-7.
Krapf had a double, single and an RBI for Dakota State. Brokiewicz added two singles, two RBIs and recorded a stolen base. Poe and Ronke each had two hits and a run scored. Fitzgerald and McFadden each had a hit and an RBI. Lopez had two singles and an RBI. Kosman registered a double.
Ortiz was perfect at the plate, going 4-of-4 with two doubles, two singles for Dickinson State. Stephens had a home run, single and drove in three runs. Gamboa had a double and an RBI. Shoffit, Rodriguez and Sickler each had a hit and an RBI.
The Trojans outhit the Blue Hawks 13-12 in the game. DaSU left 12 runners on base compared to DiSU nine runners left on base.
Lopez (L, 8-5) pitched a complete game and recorded the defeat for Dakota State. She allowed eight runs on 12 hits. She recorded six strikeouts.
Carrie Nagle started the game in the pitching circle for Dickinson State. She worked for 3 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on seven hits. Abi Brooks (W, 9-7) earned the victory after pitching 3 1/3 innings in relief, despite giving up four runs on six hits.
Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 7 – FINAL
Knotted at 4-4 after three innings of the second game, Dakota State plated three runs in the fourth inning to grab a 7-4 lead. Dickinson State exploded for a combined six runs in the fifth and sixth innings and rallied back for a 10-7 victory to earn a doubleheader sweep.
McFadden started the game with a walk for the Trojans. Brokiewicz added a walk with one out and advanced McFadden to second base. Lucero blasted a 3-run home run with two outs as Dakota State gained a 3-0 lead. It was her second home run of the season and her seventh career home run at DaSU.
Dickinson State scored once in the bottom half of the first inning. Dillon led off with a double. Gamboa hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Dillon to third base. Lawrence followed up with an RBI sacrifice bunt to score Dillon as the Blue Hawks trailed 3-1.
DiSU added a run in the bottom second inning to cut DaSU's lead to 3-2. Dobitz hit a single, followed by Ortiz's hit-by-pitch. A passed ball committed by the Trojans allowed Dobitz and Ortiz advance one base. Rodriguez recorded an RBI single to score Dobitz.
Dakota State made it 4-2 in the top third inning after Brokiewicz's lead-off home run. It was her eighth home run of the season, her 10th career at DaSU.
The Blue Hawks scored twice in the bottom third frame to tie the game at 4-4.
DaSU broke up the 4-4 tie into a 7-4 lead after plating three runs with two outs in the top fourth inning. McFadden and Krapf hit back-to-back singles. Brokiewicz drilled a 2-RBI double to score McFadden and Krapf as Dakota State regained their lead at 6-4.
Lopez followed up with an RBI single to score Brokiewicz as the Trojans' lead grew to 7-4.
Dickinson State cut Dakota State's lead to 7-6 after an RBI double by Gamboa and an RBI single by Shoffit.
The Blue Hawks exploded for four runs in the bottom sixth inning as they stormed back for a 10-7 lead.
Dakota State could not score in the final inning as they left a runner on base in the final inning, sealing the win for Dickinson State.
Brokiewicz and Lucero each paced the Trojans with a home run, double, single and drove in three runs. Lopez and Krapf each had two singles. McFadden, Kosman and Poe each had a hit. Lopez produced an RBI.
Dillon was 3-of-3 at the plate with a double, two singles, scored four runs and swiped four bases for the Blue Hawks. Shoffit added three hits and three RBIs. Lawrence was 2-of-3 at the plate with two RBIs and two stolen bases.
DiSU outhit DaSU 12-11. The Trojans left six runners on base, while the Blue Hawks had four runners on base.
Kelly Drake (L, 4-8) recorded the loss in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed nine runs on ten hits. Kosman worked for two outs in relief, giving up a run on two hits.
Jalen Creech pitched the first four innings for Dickinson State. She gave up seven runs on eight hits. Brooks (W, 10-7) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings, yielding the Trojans to three hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
