April 22, 2018
DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) pound out 14 hits and scored 10 runs in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association doubleheader Sunday at North Softball Complex, fueling to a 10-5 victory over Dickinson State (N.D.). The Blue Hawks held off the Trojans' late comeback in the four-game series finale with a 5-4 victory.
Dakota State is 18-23 overall record and 12-12 record in North Star conference games. The Trojans posted its most overall wins for the first time since 2007 season (19 overall wins). Dickinson State, who took 3-of-the-4 in the NSAA four-game series with the Trojans, is 22-17 overall record and 13-9 NSAA conference record.
DaSU is scheduled to play their final non-conference opponent on their 2018 schedule, playing NCAA Division I South Dakota State. The doubleheader is set to take place at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. with the first game at 12 noon.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 10, Dickinson State (N.D.) 5 – FINAL
Kailee McFadden led off the game with a single for Dakota State. Peyton Brokiewicz smashed a 2-run home for a 2-0 lead in favor of the Trojans.
Dickinson State answered back with a run scored in the bottom half of the first frame. Rachael Dillon led off with a single. She swiped to second base. Mariah Gamboa recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Dillon to third base. Sonja Lawrence produced an RBI single to score Dillon as DiSU trimmed DaSU's lead to 2-1.
The Trojans continued its offensive explosion in the top second inning. DaSU hit three consecutive singles by Reanna Fitzgerald, McFadden and Melissa Krapf to set up a bases loaded situation with one out. Brokiewicz recorded an RBI hit-by-pitch to score Fitzgerald, increasing the Trojans' lead to 3-1.
Dakota State made it 5-1 in the top second inning as Xitlali Lopez drilled a 2-RBI double to score McFadden and Krapf (Brokiewicz advanced to third base). Jasmin Lucero followed up with an RBI single to score Brokiewicz as the Trojans widen their lead to 6-1.
Andrea Rodriguez and Emilee Sickler hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom second for Dickinson State. Dillon hit an RBI double to score Rodriguez as the Blue Hawks trailed 6-2.
The Trojans plated four runs in the top fifth inning to balloon their lead by eight runs. Taylor Poe reached safely on base caused by DiSU's defensive error. Tatum Ronke followed up with a walk and advance Poe to second base. Fitzgerald reached first on fielder's choice as Poe was forced out at third base (Ronke advanced to second base). McFadden hit a single to set up a bases loaded situation for Dakota State.
Krapf recorded an RBI walk to score Ronke as the Trojans expanded their lead to 7-2 in the fifth inning. DaSU made it 8-2 after Brokiewicz hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Fitzgerald.
Lopez hit her second 2-RBI double to score McFadden and Krapf as Dakota State's lead grew to 10-2 in the top fifth frame.
Dickinson State avoided the eight-run mercy rule after five innings with a run scored. Claire Shoffit was hit-by-pitch with two outs. Kayla Stephens followed up with an RBI double to score Samantha Hardwick, pinch runner for Shoffit, as the Blue Hawks extended the game into the sixth inning (DaSU leads 10-3).
Dickinson State scored two runs in the bottom seventh inning with an RBI double by Shoffit and a solo home run by Rayleen Ortiz. The Trojans secured the victory after Sarah Dobitz was struck out swinging.
Lopez finished the game by going 3-of-5 at the plate with two doubles and drove in four RBIs for Dakota State. Lucero added three singles and an RBI. Brokiewicz had a home run and collected four RBIs. McFadden had three hits. Krapf had a hit and an RBI. Audrey Kosman hit a double. Ronke and Fitzgerald each had a single.
Dillon and Lawrence each went 2-of-4 at the plate with an RBI for Dickinson State. Shoffit and Stephens each had a double and an RBI. Ortiz had a home run and an RBI. Dobitz, Rodriguez and Sickler each tallied a hit.
The Trojans left 12 runners on base compared to the Blue Hawks eight runners left on base.
Stefani Gollin (W, 4-4) earned a complete game victory in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She gave up five runs on 10 hits. She struck out five DiSU's batters.
Carrie Nagle (L, 1-4) recorded the loss after pitching for 1 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits for Dickinson State. Abi Brooks worked for 5 2/3 innings in relief, allowing four runs (two unearned) on seven hits.
Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL
Dickinson State jumped to a 4-0 lead after three innings in the four-game series finale and held off Dakota State's late surge for a 5-4 victory.
With runners on first and second bases for the Blue Hawks in the second inning, Sickler hit an RBI double to score Dobitz for DiSU 1-0 lead.
Gamboa started the bottom third with a single. Lawrence hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Gamboa to second base. Shoffit followed up with a single to advance Gamboa to third base. Stephens recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Gamoba for Blue Hawks' 2-0 lead (Shoffit was forced out at second base).
DiSU made it 4-0 in the bottom third inning after Ortiz blasted a 2-run home run.
Brokiewicz smashed a solo home run to kick off the top fourth inning as the Trojans trailed 4-1. It was her tenth home run of the season (currently second-most home runs in the Trojan Softball single-season record book), her 13th career home run at Dakota State.
The Blue Hawks scored once in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Rodriguez reached safely on base caused by DaSU's defensive error. Sickler hit a bunt single and advanced Rodriguez to third base. Dillon recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Rodriguez for Dickinson State's 5-1 lead.
Dakota State mounted a comeback in the top sixth inning with three runs scored. McFadden led off with a single. Brokiewicz and Lopez hit back-to-back singles to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.
Kosman drilled a base-clearing 3-RBI double with two outs, scoring McFadden, Brokiewciz and Lopez as DaSU trimmed DiSU's lead to 5-4.
The Trojans could not complete a comeback in the final inning, leaving a runner on first base as the Blue Hawks sealed the win.
Brokiewicz was perfect at the plate by going 3-of-3 with a home run, two singles, two runs scored and an RBI for Dakota State. Kosman added a double and drove in a game-high three runs. McFadden and Ronke each had a single.
Ortiz had a home run and two RBIs for Dickinson State. Sickler added a double, two singles and an RBI. Gamboa, Stephens, Shoffit and Rodriguez each had a hit. Dillon and Stephens each had an RBI.
Lopez (L, 8-6) tabbed the loss, despite tossing a complete game for Dakota State. She gave up five runs on eight hits.
Jalen Creech (W, 8-6) earned the victory after working for 5 2/3 innings for Dickinson State. She gave up four runs on six hits. She recorded six strikeouts. Brooks (S, 2) earned the save after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. She limited DaSU to one hit.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
