April 14, 2019

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Presentation (S.D.) split their first two games of a rare North Star Athletic Association softball conference tripleheader Sunday at PC Dome.  The Trojans held off the Saints in the first game, while the Saints scored the winning run in the top seventh inning and held off DSU for a 3-2 victory.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Presentation (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

Dakota State was trailing 2-1 before exploding for four runs in the bottom fifth inning and held off Presentation's late comeback for a 5-4 victory.

The Trojans took the first lead of the game in the bottom second frame.  Tatum Ronke hit a double with one out.  Sarah Torres reached safely on base by PC's defensive error and advanced Ronke to third base.  Taylor Poe produced an RBI single to score Ronke for 1-0 lead in favor of DSU.

Presentation scored a run in the top fourth inning to knot the game at 1-1.  Sierra Kilmer recorded a walk with one out.  Celia Cerezo drilled an RBI double to score Kilmer for PC's first run of the game.

The Saints broke a 1-1 tie into a 2-1 lead in the top fifth, thanks to a lead-off double by Maranda McLaren.  After a passed ball by the Trojans to advance McLaren to third base, Cortni Mendoza recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score McLaren.

Dakota State answered back with four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to regain their lead.  Annalisa Ingui led off by being hit-by-pitch.  Kailee McFadden, pinch runner for Ingui, swiped to second base.  Madison Aldendifer hit a single and advance McFadden to third base.  Melissa Krapf collected an RBI fielder's choice to score McFadden for the second tie of the game at 2-2 (Aldendifer was out at second base).

Quinn Motichka reached safely on base by a fielder choice, despite Krapf being forced out at second base for the second out of the bottom fifth.  Nicole Stewart smashed a double to left field and advanced Motichka to third base.  Xitlali Lopez hit an RBI single to score Motichka as the Trojans earned a 3-2 lead (Hope Johnson – pinch runner for Stewart advanced to second base).

Dakota State made it 4-2 after Ronke's RBI single to score Johnson (Lopez advanced to second base) in the bottom fifth.  The Trojans continued its scoring surge after Torres' RBI double to score Lopez, extending their lead to 5-2.

Presentation mounted a comeback in the top seventh inning.  Cherie Malacas led off with a double.  Krystle Schweers hit an RBI single to score Malacas as PC cut DSU's lead to 5-3.

The Saints kept the game alive as Celia Cerezo hit a single to advance Schweers to third base with one out.  Cerezo was caught stealing at second base for the second out of the top seventh.  Darrian Gibson hit an RBI double to score Schweers as the Saints trailed at 5-4.

Dakota State halted Presentation's comeback as the game ended with Jadwyn Parrish's ground out to short stop, securing the victory for the Trojans.

Ronke finished the game by going perfect at the plate, converting 3-of-3 at-bats with two doubles, single and drove in a run for DSU.  Stewart and Torres each added a double.  Lopez and Poe each had a hit and an RBI.  Torres collected an RBI.  Aldendifer had two singles.

Cerezo and Schweers each tallied two hits and an RBI for PC.  Malacas, McLaren and Gibson each had a double.  Mendoa, Schweers, and Gibson each earned an RBI.

Dakota State tallied nine hits in the game compared to Presentation seven hits.  Both teams committed two defensive errors.  The Saints left nine runners on base while the Trojans had six runners left on base.

Stefani Gollin (W, 3-7) tossed a complete game victory for DSU.  She allowed four runs on seven hits and registered seven strikeouts.

Gibson (L, 0-13) recorded the loss, despite pitching a complete game for PC.  She gave up five runs on nine hits and recorded four strikeouts.

Game 2 – Presentation (S.D.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Tied at 2-2 before heading to the final inning in the second game of the tripleheader, the Saints scored a run in the top seventh inning and held off the Trojans by the score of 3-2.

Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom first.  Motichka hit a single with one out.  Stewart followed up with a single and advanced Motichka to third base.  Lopez produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Motichka to give Trojans a 1-0 lead.

Presentation plated two runs in the top second frame to overtake a 2-1 lead, highlighted by Parrish's RBI single.

DSU answered back with a run scored in the bottom second.  Torres led off with a single.  She advanced to second base after PC's passed ball.  Aldendifer drilled an RBI double with two outs to score Torres to knot the game at 2-2.

Presentation and Dakota State were unable to score from the third through sixth innings.

McLaren blasted a solo home run in the top seventh inning as the Saints earned a 3-2 lead with one out.

Dakota State was unable to answer back in the bottom half of the seventh inning, leaving a runner on second base when the ended.

Stewart was perfect at the plate, going 3-of-3 with two doubles and a single for DSU.  Aldendifer added a double and an RBI.  Motichka and Torres each had a hit and a run scored.  Lopez tallied an RBI.

McLaren had a home run and an RBI for PC.  Parrish added two hits and an RBI.  Schweers had a single.

The Trojans outhit the Saints 7-4, despite the setback.  Dakota State left six runners on base compared to Presentation four runners left on base.

Ingui (L, 0-6) took the loss in the pitching circle, tossing a complete game for DSU.  She allowed three runs on four hits. 

Bibiana Villeda (W, 4-14) earned a complete game victory for PC.  She yielded the Trojans to two runs on seven hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director