March 4, 2019
TUCSON, Ariz. – Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off the second game of the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games with a 3-0 lead over Siena Heights Monday afternoon at Lincoln Park. The Saints outscored the Trojans 21-0 to earn a 21-3 victory in five innings. SHU pound out 20 hits in the game, with eight hits being extra-base hits (three doubles, three triples and two home runs).
Dakota State fell to 1-4 overall record. Siena Heights raised their overall record to 5-1.
With one out in the top first inning, DSU hit three straight singles by Kailee McFadden, Nicole Stewart and Xitlali Lopez. Lopez produced an RBI single to score McFadden for the Trojans' first run of the game (DSU led 1-0).
Quinn Motichka hit a ground out to advance Stewart to third base and Lopez to second base in the top first. Jayme Knauer hit a 2-RBI single to score Stewart and Lopez to widen Dakota State's lead to 3-0.
Siena Heights exploded for eight runs on seven hits in the bottom half of the first inning, earning an 8-3 lead. The Saints registered four extra-base hits in the first inning, led by Lily Guerra with a triple and a double. Racquel Ward hit a home run and Ashley Helmi added a double.
SHU scored four more runs in the bottom second frame, highlighted by Helmi's solo home run and Hayley Turk's RBI triple. The Saints led 12-3 after the second inning.
Siena Heights expanded their lead to 21-3 after scoring nine runs in the bottom fourth inning.
Dakota State was unable to extend the game in the fifth inning, securing the victory for the Saints.
Lopez was 2-of-2 at the plate with two singles and an RBI for DSU. Knauer added a single and drove in two runs. McFadden and Stewart each had a hit and a run scored. Taylor Poe registered a single. The Trojans had six hits in the game.
Helmink led SHU by going 4-of-4 at the plate with a home run, triple, double, single and drove in three runs. Kayla Boland, Turk and Abriana Hicks each added two hits and two RBIs. Guerra had two hits and produced three RBIs. Sam Hill, Vanessa Wandrie, Izzy Howay and Kelsey Uhl each recorded a hit and an RBI.
Siena Heights left five runners on base compared to Dakota State three runners left on base.
Lopez (L, 1-1) took the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She tossed three innings and allowed 12 runs (3 unearned) on 13 hits. She recorded three strikeouts. Kaysea Luna worked for one inning in relief, giving up nine runs (two unearned) on seven hits.
Ward (W, 3-0) earned the victory after pitching a complete game for SHU. She gave up three runs on six hits.
Dakota State will take a day off Tuesday before returning back to action. The Trojans face a pair of teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) on Wednesday, facing No. 24-ranked Jamestown (N.D.) and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) for the second time this season (both teams played at the Presentation Softball Dome on Feb. 10).
DSU takes on the Jimmies at 4:30 p.m., followed by a contest with the Tigers at 7 p.m. All Tucson Invitational Games are held at Lincoln Park.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
