April 9, 2019
OMAHA, Neb. – Bellevue (Neb.) defeated Dakota State (S.D.) 9-1 in six innings in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association softball conference doubleheader action at Roy Smith Field Tuesday. The Bruins won the battle of pitcher's duel in the second game by the score of 2-0 to complete the sweep over the Trojans.
Dakota State fell to 5-24 overall record and 2-12 NSAA conference record. Bellevue, who received votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll prior to the game, raised their overall record to 27-15 and 10-4 record in league play.
Game 1 – (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/6 innings
Dakota State earned the first lead of the game, thanks to Quinn Motichka's double with one out. Nicole Stewart produced an RBI single to score Motichka to give Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Bellevue answered with a run in the bottom second frame. Maricela Egan and Maddie Siedlik each hit a double, as Siedlik produced an RBI to score Egan as BU knotted the game at 1-1.
The Bruins plated two runs in the bottom third with two outs. Kaitlyn Kinman hit a single, followed by Ashlyn Teran's double to advance Kinman to third base. Egan produced a 2-RBI single to score Kinman and Teran to put Bellevue up 3-1.
Grace Glotfelty recorded a 2-RBI single to widen BU's lead to 5-1 in the bottom fifth.
Erin Sharpe blasted a 2-run home run as Bellevue's lead balloon to 7-1 in the bottom sixth. Teran added an RBI double, while Glotfelty ended the game with an RBI single to secure a 9-1 victory (ended the game in eight-run mercy rule).
Stewart recorded a single and an RBI for Dakota State. Motichka added a double and scored a run. Xitlali Lopez had a single. Sarah Torres reached on base by a walk once.
Teran tallied two doubles and an RBI for Bellevue. Egan added three hits and two RBIs. Glotfelty had two singles and three RBIs. Shapre hit a home run and drove in two runs. Kinman registered two hits. Siedlik had a double and an RBI.
Bellevue outhit Dakota State 13-3 in the game. The Bruins left six runners on base compared to Dakota State three runners left on base.
Stefani Gollin (L, 2-7) recorded the loss in the pitching circle for DSU. She gave up nine runs (two unearned) on 13 hits.
Monique Ashley (W, 8-7) earned a complete game victory for BU. She yielded one run on three hits and registered eight strikeouts.
Game 2 – (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) 2, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL
The second game of the North Star conference doubleheader featured a battle of pitcher's duel between DSU's Lopez and BU's Brieanna Brock. The Bruins came on top by the score of 2-0 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Egan blasted a solo home run with one out as Bellevue earned the first lead of the game at 1-0 in the bottom second frame.
The Bruins plated a run in the bottom fourth, thanks to a pair of doubles by Kinman and Egan. Egan produced an RBI double to score Kinman to extend BU's lead to 2-0.
Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring chances as they left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the win for Bellevue.
Taylor Poe went 2-of-3 at the plate with a double and single for the Trojans. Stewart added a single. Melissa Krapf and Torres each reached on base by a walk once.
Egan led the Bruins with a home run, double and drove in two runs. Kinman added a double. Sharpe, Ashley Young and Glotfelty each recorded a hit.
BU tallied eight hits compared to DSU three hits. The Bruins left six runners on base, while the Trojans had five runners left on base.
Lopez (L, 3-8) recorded the loss, despite pitching a complete game for DSU. She allowed two runs on eight hits.
Brock (W, 10-2) earned a complete game shutout victory for BU. She gave up three runs and recorded nine strikeouts.
Both teams will meet again on April 24 for the North Star Athletic Association conference doubleheader in Madison.
Up Next
Dakota State was originally scheduled to host Presentation (S.D.) in the North Star's four-game series this weekend. Due to the impending winter storm that will impact the Midwest region, the series had been relocated to PC Dome in Aberdeen, S.D. this weekend.
DSU and PC will open up their four-game series on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Both teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
