April 6, 2018
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) played a rare early morning North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball doubleheader with Viterbo (Wis.) at PC Dome Friday. The Trojans pulled way late, using a four-run sixth inning to earn a 7-3 game one victory over the V-Hawks. DSU completed the doubleheader sweep after shaking off a slow start for a 6-3 victory.
Dakota State bounced back in the winning column, improving their overall record to 15-18 and 9-7 record in the North Star conference game. The Trojans also found out on Friday that they earned another North Star conference victory on Feb. 24 with Waldorf (Iowa) (WU committed an NAIA violation eligibility which was forced to forfeit their eight victories prior to March 10).
DSU jumped to a third-place in the North Star conference standings behind the co-leader Jamestown (N.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.). The Trojans also recorded its most conference wins since joining the North Star conference in 2013-14, as well as most overall wins since 2013 (16 wins).
Viterbo dropped their fifth straight game, falling to 7-19 overall record and 3-11 NSAA conference record. The V-Hawks take on Jamestown in the NSAA doubleheader Saturday evening at PC Dome.
Dakota State is scheduled to play a home non-conference doubleheader versus in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) on Thursday afternoon. The first game of the doubleheader is slated for 4 p.m. at Thue Softball Complex in Madison, S.D.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 7, Viterbo (Wis.) 3 – FINAL
Dakota State used an offense explosion in the top sixth inning after plating four runs, breaking a 3-3 tie for a 7-3 victory.
The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game in the top first frame. Kailee McFadden hit a single with one out. Jasmin Lucero drilled a two-out RBI triple to score McFadden to give DSU a 1-0 lead. Xitlali Lopez followed up with an RBI single to score Lucero to extend Trojans' lead to 2-0.
VU scored twice in the bottom half of the second inning. Sarah Throgmorton and Delaney Hundley hit back-to-back singles. A wild pitch committed by the Trojans allowed Throgmorton and Hundley advance one base. Caitlin Brown hit an RBI single to score Throgmorton for V-Hawks' first run of the game (DSU led 2-1, Hundley advanced to third base).
Viterbo tied the game at 2-2 after a double steal by Hundley and Brown in the bottom second.
Dakota State scored once in the top third to regain their lead. Jasmin Lucero hit a single. Lopez reached safely on first base after a fielder's choice, but a defensive error by VU allowed Lucero advance to third base. Kosman produced an RBI double to score Lucero as the Trojans earned a 3-2 lead.
Kelsey Ludwig hit a double in the bottom fifth inning for the V-Hawks. Anna Lensmire reached on DSU's defensive miscue and allowed Ludwig to score at home at Viterbo knotted the game for the second time at 3-3.
After the first two outs recorded in the top sixth, Dakota State started their scoring outburst by scoring four runs after seven consecutive batters reaching safely on base.
Taylor Poe reached on first base after a defensive error by the V-Hawks in the top sixth frame. Autumn Madrigal recorded a walk and advanced Poe to second base. Peyton Brokiewicz hit an RBI double to score Poe for DSU 4-3 lead (Madrigal advanced to third base).
McFadden added an RBI single to score Madrigal to extend DSU's lead to 5-3 in the top sixth (Brokiewicz advanced to third base). Stewart and Lucero produced back-to-back RBI singles to score Brokiewicz and McFadden, respectively, ballooning Trojans' lead to 7-3.
Viterbo left a runner on first base in the final inning as Dakota State sealed the win.
Lucero was 3-of-4 at the plate with a triple, two singles and drove in two runs for the Trojans. Poe, Kosman, Stewart and Brokiewicz each hit a double. McFadden and Lopez each had two singles and an RBI. Stewart, Brokiewicz, Lopez and Kosman each collected an RBI.
Ludwig had a double and a run scored for the V-Hawks. Brown had a single and an RBI. Lensmire, Taylor Bondar, Thorgmorton and Hundley each had a hit. Hundley and Brown each registered a stolen base.
DSU outhit VU 12-6 in the game. Both teams committed two defensive miscues. The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the V-Hawks five runners left on base.
Kosman (W, 1-6) earned her first complete game victory in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She gave up three runs (one unearned) on six hits. She struck out eight VU's batters.
Brooklyn Ottelien (L, 2-6) recorded the loss for Viterbo. She tossed a complete game and allowed seven runs (four unearned) on 12 hits.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Viterbo (Wis.) 3 – FINAL
Dakota State erased a 3-0 early deficit in the second game of the North Star doubleheader, scoring six runs for a 6-3 victory.
The V-Hawks set up a bases loaded situation after their first three batters reaching safely on base (Kendyl Schine with a single, Ludwig with a walk and Lensmire with a single). Lauren Davis recorded an RBI ground out to score Schine for VU's 1-0 lead (Ludwig and Lensimire each advanced one base).
A wild pitch committed by DSU allowed Ludwing to score, extending VU's lead to 2-0 in the top first. Throgmorton bunted and reached first on a squeeze play for a base hit, recording an RBI single to score Lensmire as Viterbo widen their lead to 3-0.
The Trojans scored its first run of the game in the bottom second frame with two outs. Kosman hit a single. She advanced to second base after a fielder's choice by Tatum Ronke. Poe hit an RBI single to score Kosman as DSU trailed 3-1.
Dakota State plated three runs in the bottom third inning to overtake the lead from Viterbo, thanks to three doubles. Brokiewicz led off the inning with a double. McFadden hit a single and advanced Brokiewicz to third base. Stewart drilled a 2-RBI double to score Brokiewicz and McFadden as the Trojans tied the game at 3-3.
A passed ball by VU allowed Stewart to advance to third base in the bottom third. Lopez hit an RBI double with one out to score Stewart, giving the Trojans a 4-3 lead.
DSU added a run in the bottom fifth inning to balloon their lead to 5-3. Lucero hit a single with one out. She swiped to second base. Kosman hit an RBI single to score Lucero for a two-run lead.
Brokiewicz blasted a solo home run in the bottom sixth frame as the Trojans' lead grew to 6-3. It was Brokiewicz's seventh home run of the season, her tenth career home run at Dakota State.
Viterbo failed to convert their scoring chances in the final inning, leaving bases full as DSU closed out with a victory.
Brokiewicz, McFadden and Kosman each had two hits for Dakota State. Stewart and Lopez each recorded a double. Lucero, Poe and Madrigal each tallied a hit. Stewart drove in two runs. Brokiewicz, Lopez, Kosman and Poe each had an RBI. McFadden and Lucero each swiped one base.
Lensmire led Viterbo with two singles. Schine, Ludwig, Taylor Bondar, Ottelien and Throgmorton each had a single. Davis and Throgmorton each registered an RBI.
DSU outhit VU 11-9 in the game. The V-Hawks left ten runners on base, while the Trojans had six runners left on base.
Stefani Gollin (W, 3-3) pitched a complete game victory in the circle for Dakota State. She allowed three runs on nine hits. She registered seven strikeouts.
Caitlyn Almberg (L, 2-6) recorded the loss for Viterbo. She pitched six innings and gave up six runs on 11 hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
