April 14, 2019
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) raced to a 7-0 lead after five innings and shut down Presentation (S.D.) 7-1 in the third game of the North Star Athletic Association's rare tripleheader at PC Dome Sunday afternoon. The Trojans won their first NSAA four-game series of the season, taking winning three games over the Saints.
Dakota State improved their overall record to 8-25 and 5-13 record in league play. Presentation fell to 8-30 overall record and 3-15 record in North Star contests.
It was Senior Day weekend for DSU (Peyton Brokiewicz, Stefani Gollin, Jayme Knauer, Taylor Poe and Tatum Ronke), despite their final NSAA home four-game weekend series being relocated to PC Dome due to recent winter storm that caused wet playing field conditions.
Quinn Motichka hit a single with one out, followed by Nicole Stewart's single and Xitlali Lopez's hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation with one out for the Trojans in the bottom first. Ronke reached on base by a fielder's choice, but Motichka was out at home.
Sarah Torres hit an RBI single with two outs to score Stewart for DSU's first lead of the game at 1-0 in the bottom first frame. Taylor Poe followed up with a 2-RBI single score Lopez and Ronke to extend DSU's lead to 3-0.
Melissa Krapf led off the bottom second inning with a hit-by-pitch. Stewart blasted a 2-run home run to widen DSU's lead to 5-0. She extended the school record all-time home run with 19, recording her third home run this season.
The Trojans plated two more runs in the bottom fifth, thanks to Poe's RBI double to score Ronke who led off with a single. With bases loaded situation with one out, Krapf registered an RBI hit-by-pitch to score Poe to balloon DSU's lead to 7-0.
Jadwyn Parrish hit a lead-off double in the top sixth for the Saints. Cortni Mendoza hit an RBI single to score Haylie Vallery (pinch runner for Parrish) as the Saints scored the first run of the game (DSU led 7-1).
PC left a runner on second base when the game ended, securing the victory for DSU.
Stewart led the Trojans' offense attack by going 2-of-4 at the plate with a home run, single and drove in two runs. Poe added a double, single and collected a game-high three runs. Motichka, Ronke, Torres and Annalisa Ingui each recorded a hit. Ronke had a stolen base.
Presentation tallied 10 hits in the game, led by Celia Cerezo with three hits. Mendoza and Krystle Schweers each added two hits. Mendoza swiped two bases. Sierra Kilmer, Parrish and Bibiana Villeda each had a hit.
The Saints left 11 runners on base in the game compared to the Trojans eight runners left on base.
Madison Aldendifer (W, 1-1) earned her first career collegiate pitching win for Dakota State. She allowed one run on 10 hits. She struck out five PC batters.
Darrian Gibson (L, 0-14) recorded the loss after tossing a complete game. She gave up seven runs on eight hits.
Dakota State's non-conference home doubleheader versus Mount Marty (S.D.) on Tuesday and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Wednesday has been canceled due to wet playing field conditions at Thue Softbal Complex.
The Trojans continue their North Star conference action next weekend, traveling to Dickinson State (N.D.) for a four-game series. The doubleheader kicks off on Friday at 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time) at North Softball Complex in Dickinson, N.D. The four-game series conclude on Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT).
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
