March 30, 2019
NORFOLK, Neb. – Waldorf (Iowa) poured in 36 runs, pound out 33 hits (11 hits being extra-base hits), rolling 15-6 and 21-8 victories over Dakota State (S.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association conference softball action at Ta Ha Zouka Park. The Warriors used an eight-run fourth inning to pull away from the Trojans. Knotted at 6-6 after two innings in the second game, WU outscored DSU 15-1 for the rest of the game.
Dakota State dropped their ninth straight game, dipping the overall record to 3-16 and 0-6 NSAA conference record. Waldorf improved their overall record to 6-14 and evened their North Star conference record at 3-3.
Both teams will meet again Sunday afternoon for another NSAA doubleheader at Ta Ha Zouka Park. First game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Game 1 – Waldorf (Iowa) 15, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL/5 innings
The Warriors jumped to an early lead in the first inning. With bases loaded and one out situation, Payge Jurgens hit 3-RBI bases clearing double to give WU a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Quinn Motichka hit a single wit one out. Nicole Stewart blasted a 2-run home run on the first pitch as DSU cut WU's lead to 3-2, setting the all-time school record home runs with 18. Stewart broke the previous record holder by Brittany Hill with 17 career home runs from 2012-15.
Waldorf increased their lead in the second inning after plating four runs. KD Hoyer kicked off the inning with a double. She advanced to third base after a wild pitch by DSU. Taylor Navratil hit a single. Brynlee Gibbs was safe on first base after recording an RBI sacrifice bunt to score Hoyer to extend Warriors' lead to 4-2 (Navratil advanced to second base).
Lauren Hein smashed a 3-run home run with two outs as the Warriors widen their lead to 7-2 in the top second.
The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chances in the bottom second after stranding three runners on base.
DSU scored three runs in the bottom third frame. Xitlali Lopez drilled a double to left-center with one out. Annalisa Ingui reached safely on first base after a dropped third strike and advanced Lopez to third base. Sarah Torres followed up with a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.
A passed ball by the Warriors allowed Lopez to score as DSU trailed 7-3 in the bottom third. Tatum Ronke produced a two-out RBI single to score Ingui and Torres as the Trojans trimmed the Warriors' lead to 7-5.
Jurgens ignited the Warriors' offense with her second 3-RBI play in the fourth inning, smashing a 3-run home run to balloon their lead to 10-5.
Blaney Markman followed up with a double for WU in the top fourth. The Warriors then produced five more runs, thanks to five singles from Hoyer, Navratil, Gibbs (RBI), Peyton Arenson (2 RBIs) and Hein (RBI) as WU's grew to 15-5.
Stewart hit a single with two outs in the bottom fourth. Lopez reached safely on base caused by Warriors' defensive miscue, advancing Stewart to third base (Lopez advanced to second base on the same play). Ingui hit an RBI single to score Stewart as the Trojans trailed 15-6.
DSU was unable to extend the game into the sixth inning, despite leaving two runners on base. The Warriors secured the victory after earning an eight-run mercy rule after five innings.
Stewart led the Trojans after going 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, single and drove in two runs. Ronke added a single and collected two RBIs. Lopez had double. Ingui had a single and an RBI. Melissa Krapf, Motichka, Taylor Poe and Jayme Knauer each registered a hit.
Jurgens and Hein each hit a 3-run home run in the game for the Warriors. Jurgens earned a game-high six RBIs and added a double and single. Hein also had two singles and four RBIs. Navratil had three singles. Gibbs and Arenson each recorded a hit and two RBIs. Hoyer had a double and two singles.
Waldorf outhit Dakota State 15-6 in the game. The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the Warriors six runners left on base.
Ingui (L, 0-4) took the loss in the pitching circle after working for three-plus innings for DSU. She gave up ten runs (one unearned) on ten hits. Lopez came in for the final two innings in relief, allowing five runs (one unearned) on six hits. She recorded four strikeouts.
Rachel Setting (W, 2-1) posted a complete game victory for WU. She gave up six runs (one unearned) on nine hits.
Game 2 – Waldorf (Iowa) 21, Dakota State (S.D.) 8 – FINAL/5 innings
Waldorf raced to a 5-0 lead to open up the second game of the North Star's four-game series. Ursula DelCampo and Hein each had an RBI single to give WU a 2-0 lead. Markman added a 2-RBI single and scored another run caused by DSU's defensive errors as the Warriors posted a five-run lead.
Dakota State answered back with four runs scored in the bottom first. Motichka hit a single with one out. Stewart followed up with a double down the left field line and advanced Motichka to third base. Lopez produced a 2-RBI single to score Moitchka and Stewart as the Trojans trailed 5-2.
Torres hit a single with two outs and advanced Lopez to third base. Poe followed up with a single to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs for DSU. Ronke hit a 2-RBI single to score Lopez and Torres to cut WU's lead down to 5-4.
Gibbs and Arenson hit back-to-back singles with one out in the top second for the Warriors. DelCampo followed up with an RBI single to score Gibbs as Waldorf expanded their lead to 6-4.
The Trojans plated two runs in the bottom half of the second frame. Krapf led off with single. Motichka reached safely on base caused by WU's defensive error and advanced Krapf to third base (Motichka advanced to second base on the same play). Stewart reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.
Lopez produced a 2-RBI single to score Krapf and Motichka as the Trojans knotted the game at 6-6 in the bottom second (Stewart advanced to second base).
Waldorf exploded for 10 runs in the top third inning to widen their lead to 16-6, highlighted by Hein's 2-RBI triple, Jurgens' 2-run home run and Hamblin's 2-run home run.
Gibbs produced a 3-RBI double, while DelCamp hit a 2-run home run to complete a 5-run fifth inning as WU extended their lead to 21-6.
Poe and Ronke hit back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom fifth inning, but could not extend the game into the sixth inning as WU secured the victory. It was Poe's first home run this season and her third career home run at DSU.
Ronke hit her fifth home run this season for Dakota State, racking up a total of 17 career home runs (tied for second most all-time home runs with Hill).
Lopez was 2-of-4 at the plate with two singles and drove in four runs for the Trojans. Ronke added a home run, single and three RBIs. Poe also had a home run, single and an RBI. Krapf, Motichka, Stewart and Torres each added a hit.
DelCamp led the Warriors' offensive power by going 5-of-5 at the plate with a home run, four singles and collected a game-high six RBIs. Hamblin and Jurgens each added a home run and two RBIs. Gibbs had two hits and four RBIs. Hein had a triple, single and three RBIs. Markman had two singles and two RBIs. Arenson had two singles.
WU registered 17 hits in the game compared to DSU 10 hits. The Trojans committed eight defensive miscues while the Warriors had one error.
Stefani Gollin (L, 2-5) recorded the loss after working for 2 1/3 innings, giving up 16 runs (five unearned) on 11 hits for Dakota State. Lopez worked for 2 2/3 innings in relief, allowing five runs on six hits.
Karlee Leyvas started the game for Waldorf. She worked for one-plus innings and gave up six runs on eight hits. Jessica Whittaker (W, 2-6) earned the win after tossing four innings in relief. She yielded the Trojans to two runs on two hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
