February 10, 2019
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a five-run fourth inning Sunday afternoon, propelling to a 9-2 softball season opener over long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at Presentation (S.D.) Softball Dome. The victory was also the sixth win in the last seven meetings in the series meeting with the Tigers.
DSU is 1-0 overall record. Dakota Wesleyan finished the season opening weekend with a 1-3 record in the tournament.
Peyton Brokiewicz led off the game with a hit-by-pitch. She advanced to second base after a sacrifice bunt by Kailee McFadden. Nicole Stewart drilled an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Brokiewicz for DSU's first lead of the game at 1-0.
With two outs in the top first inning, Quinn Motichka reached on base caused by DWU's defensive miscue and advanced Stewart to third base. Sarah Torres followed up with an RBI single to score Stewart, extending the Trojans' lead to 2-0.
The Tigers answered with a run scored in the bottom half of the first inning. Adriana Sprakel led off with a walk. Reagan Nebel followed up with a single and advanced Sprakel to second base. Katelyne Dougherty hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Sprakel to third base and Nebel to second base. Chaydon Metzger hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Sprakel as DWU trimmed DSU's lead to 2-1.
Dakota Wesleyan added a run in the bottom second frame, thanks to a lead-off double by Alyson VanderPol. Peyton Senger hit a two-out RBI single to score Karly Severance, pinch runner for VanderPol, and tied the game at 2-2.
Taylor Poe was hit-by-pitch to start the top fourth inning for DSU. Melissa Krapf hit a single with one out and advanced Poe to second base. Brokiewicz followed up with a single to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.
McFadden recoded an RBI fielder's choice to score Poe to give the Trojans a 3-2 lead in the top fourth. Xitlali Lopez smashed a grand slam with two outs and scored Krapf, Brokiewicz and McFadden as Dakota State's lead ballooned to 7-2.
The Trojans plated two more runs in the top sixth inning, highlighted by Motichka's RBI single to extend their lead to 9-2.
DWU left a runner on base in the final inning as DSU secured the victory.
Lopez had a grand slam and drove in four runs for Dakota State. Stewart added two doubles and an RBI. Motichka had two singles and an RBI. Brokiewicz, Torres, Tatum Ronke and Krapf each had a hit. McFadden, Motichka and Torres each produced an RBI. McFadden swiped two bases. Ronke had a stolen base.
Claudia Nixon and Vander Pol each recorded a double for Dakota Wesleyan. Peyton Senger had two singles and an RBI.
DSU outhit DWU 9-7 in the game. The Tigers committed three defensive miscues.
Lopez (W, 1-0) tossed a complete game win on the pithing mound for Dakota State. She gave up two runs on seven hits. She recorded two strikeouts.
Devany Farris (L, 0-1) took the loss after tossing four innings for the Tigers. She allowed seven runs (one unearned) on six hits. VanderPol worked for three innings in relief, giving up two runs (one unearned) on three hits).
Dakota State plays No. 25-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) at 2 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
