March 9, 2019

TUCSON, Ariz. – Aquinas (Mich.) used a fast start, racing to a 6-0 lead over Dakota State (S.D.) after the first inning Saturday afternoon in the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games at Lincoln Park.  The Trojans wrapped up the week with an 11-7 setback to the Saints.

Dakota State fell to 3-8 overall record, finishing the week with a 2-6 record in the tournament.  Aquinas, receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 9-5 overall record.

The Saints exploded for six runs in the opening inning.  Brooke Wila led off with a walk.  She swiped to second base.  Kallie Sears followed up with a single and advanced Wila to third base.  Briana Mairose drilled a 2-RBI double to score Wila and Sears for AC's 2-0 lead.

Aquinas continued its scoring surge in the top first after Izzy Dawson's single to score Mairose for 3-0 lead.  Kaleigh Whitcomb blasted a 2-run home run to make it 5-0 in favor of the Saints.

Carrie Mesman hit a single with a one out and advanced to second base after Sydney Dawson's sacrifice bunt.  Jordan Buckingham hit an RBI double to score Mesman to balloon Aquinas' lead to 6-0.

Dakota State plated three runs in the bottom second frame, thanks to three extra-base hits.  Sarah Torres kicked off with a triple.  Taylor Poe followed up with an RBI double to score Torres for DSU's first run of the game (DSU trailed 6-1).

Peyton Brokiewicz added an RBI triple to score Poe as the Trojans cut the Saints' lead to 6-2 in the bottom second.  Melissa Krapt produced an RBI single to score Brokiewicz as DSU trailed by three runs (6-3).

AC answered back with two runs in the top third, thanks to Izzy Dawson' RBI triple to score Leigha Morse who had a lead-off single.  The Saints made it 8-3 after Whitcomb's RBI ground out to score Izzy Dawson.

Morse produced an RBI single to score Wila to extend the Saints' lead to 9-3 in the top fourth.

The Trojans scored a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning.  Krapf hit a single.  She advanced to second base after Quinn Motichka's ground out.  Nicole Stewart hit an RBI single to score Krapf as DSU reduced their deficit to 9-4.

Emily Kimball and Mairose each recorded an RBI single to widen Aquinas' lead to 11-4 in the top sixth.

Brokiewicz led off the bottom sixth with a double in the bottom sixth for DSU.  She advanced to third base after Krapf's groud out.  Motichka hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Brokiewicz as the Trojans trimmed AC's lead to 11-5.

Dakota State attempted to make a comeback in the final inning, but fell short after scoring two runs.  Annalisa Ingui started the bottom seventh with a single.  Torres was hit-by-pitch to advance Ingui to second base.  Brokiewicz reached safely on base caused by the Saints' defensive error and allowed Ingui to score as DSU trailed 11-6.

Krapf followed up with an RBI single to score Torres with two outs as the Trojans cut AC's lead to 11-7.  DSU left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for Aquinas.

Stewart was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four singles and an RBI for Dakota State.  She extended her hitting streak to 14 games.  Krapf added three hits and drove in two runs.  Ingui had two singles.  Poe had a double, single and an RBI.  Brokiewicz hit a triple, single and an RBI.  Torres recorded a triple and scored twice.  Xitlali Lopez had a hit.

Whitcomb had a home run and collected three RBIs for the Saints.  Izzy Dawson added two hits and two RBIs.  Mairose had a double, single and three RBIs.  Wila registered to two singles and stole the base four times.  Mesman added two singles.

DSU outhit AC 15-14 in the game, despite the defeat.  The Trojans left ten runners on base compared to the Saints four runners left on base.

Lopez (L, 1-4) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for DSU.  She pitched five innings and allowed nine runs on 11 hits.  She recorded four strikeouts.  Stefani Gollin worked for two innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits and registered three strikeouts.

Marisa Loya (W, 4-3) earned the victory after tossing six innings.  She allowed five runs on 13 hits.  Mia Loya worked the final inning, giving up two unearned runs on two hits.

Dakota State takes a week off before returning back to action.  The Trojans travel to Omaha, Neb. to take on College of Saint Mary's in a doubleheader on Thursday, March 21.  The first game is set for 3 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director