May 4, 2018
NSAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTER
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Fifth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) held on to a 3-2 pitcher's duel victory over fourth-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) in the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association Softball Gold Bracket Friday afternoon. The conference tournament is being played at Players Softball Complex, hosted by Presentation (S.D.).
The victory also gave DSU's head coach Steven Kissel is 600th career collegiate win. The Trojans, who lifted their overall record to 20-28, recorded its most wins since the 2003 season (26 wins). In addition, DSU recorded its first win in the North Star Softball Conference Tournament history since dropping their first two tournament games on the same field two seasons ago.
Dakota State got the offense started in the top second inning, thanks to a lead-off double by Xitlali Lopez. After Jasmin Lucero's single and Peyton Brokiewicz's hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation, Audrey Kosman hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Lopez for DSU 1-0 lead.
Grace Glotfelty smashed a solo home run with one out in the bottom third as Bellevue knotted the game at 1-1.
Emily Gigax led off the bottom fourth with a double. The Trojans prevented the Bruins for taking the lead as Gigax was tagged out at home from the defensive play connection from Kailee McFadden (right field) to Lucero (first base) and Nicole Stewart (catcher).
Lopez sparked a lead-off double in the top sixth inning, leading the Trojans to two more runs. Lucero hit an RBI single down the left field line to score Lopez as DSU regained their lead at 2-1. Unfortunately, Lucero was tagged out stretching at second base for the second out.
The Trojans continued its scoring surge as Kosman and Taylor Poe hit back-to-back doubles, with Poe producing an RBI to extend their lead to 3-1.
Erin Sharpe answered with a lead-off double in the bottom half of the sixth inning for BU. Facing two outs situation, Sayde Woten hit a single infield and advanced Kayla Lehigh (pinch runner for Sharpe) to third base. Randi Henry hit an RBI single to score Lehigh as the Bruins cut Trojans' lead to 3-2.
Kayla Young and Glotfelty hit back-to-back singles in the bottom seventh inning with one out. The Trojans secured the victory by retiring Sharpe and Kaitlyn Kinman for the final outs of the game (both hit pop-out infield).
Lopez finished the game with two doubles and scored two runs for DSU. She also tossed a complete game victory after limiting the Bruins to two runs on nine hits. She raised her pitching record to 10-7.
Lucero added two singles and an RBI for Dakota State. Kosman and Poe each had a hit and an RBI. Melissa Krapf recorded a single.
Glotfelty led the Bruins with a home run, single and an RBI. Henry collected two hits and an RBI.
Sharpe (L, 16-6) suffered the defeat after pitching a complete game for Bellevue. She gave up three runs on seven hits and recorded four strikeouts.
BU outhit 9-7 in the game. Both teams left seven runners on base.
Dakota State plays top-seed and No. 15-ranked Jamestown (N.D.), who defeated No. 8 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 5-3 in the opening round Friday morning, in the winner's game of the Gold Bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Players Softball Complex Field A., with the winner moving on the Gold Bracket's championship game later that day at 4:30 p.m.
The loser will take on Bellevue, who eliminated MSU 4-3 on a walk-off RBI single in the seventh inning late Friday afternoon, at 1:30 p.m. in the loser's out game.
Nick Huntimer, North Star Athletic Association Sports Information Director
