April 24, 2019

MADISON, S.D. – After playing 37 consecutive games away from Dakota State's (S.D.) home field, the Trojans played its first and last home games of the season Wednesday late afternoon.  DSU fell short to Bellevue (Neb.) by the scores of 4-2 and 8-7 in the North Star Athletic Association conference action at Thue Softball Complex. 

Dakota State is 8-31 overall record and 5-19 NSAA conference record.  Bellevue, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their eighth straight games to raise their overall record to 37-16 overall record and 19-5 record in league play (second-place in the conference standings).

Game 1 – (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Ashlyn Teran and Erin Sharpe kicked off the game with back-to-back singles for Bellevue.  Ellie Bliemeister produced an RBI single with two outs to score Teran to give Bruins its first lead of the game at 1-0.

Dakota State answered back with a run scored in the bottom first.  Quinn Motichka and Xitlali Lopez each hit a single.  Taylor Poe followed up with an RBI single with two outs to score Motichka to knot the game at 1-1.

The Bruins added a run in the top second to regain their lead.  Ashley Young led off with a single and advanced to second base after Maddie Siedlik's sacrifice bunt.  With bases loaded situation for the Bruins, Kaitlyn Kinman hit an RBI single to score Young as BU earned a 2-1 lead.

The Trojans were unable to tie the game in the bottom third, despite a triple by Motichka.

DSU's Lopez smashed a solo home run to kick off the bottom half of the fourth inning record the second tie of the game at 2-2.  It was her sixth home run this season for Lopez, her ninth career home run.  The Trojans were unable to grab a lead when Tatum Ronke hit a triple.

Dakota State prevented the Bruins to score in the top fifth inning with bases loaded.

Teran and Sharpe drilled back-to-back doubles in the top sixth inning.  Sharpe collected an RBI to score Teran as BU posted a 3-2 lead.

Bellevue widen their lead to 4-2 after Grace Glotfelty's solo home run over the center field in the top seventh.

Ronke led off the bottom seventh with a walk.  Kaysea Luna, pinch hitter for Annalisa Ingui, followed up with a single to advance Ronke to second base.  Ronke advanced to third base on the same play caused by BU's defensive miscue.

Sharpe struck out the next three DSU batters to secure the victory for Bellevue.

Motichka led the Trojans' offense attack by going 3-of-4 at the plate with a triple, two singles and a run scored.  Lopez was perfect at the plate (2-of-2) with a home run, single and an RBI.  Poe tallied a single and an RBI.  Ronke had a triple and a walk.  Luna had a single.  Peyton Brokiewicz, who returned back from a wrist injury, recorded a walk.

Glotfelty was 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, two singles and an RBI for the Bruins.  Teran and Sharpe each added a double and single.  Kinman and Bliemeister each had a hit and an RBI.  Ashley Young had two hits. 

Bellevue had 13 hits in the game compared to Dakota State eight hits.  The Bruins left 11 runners while the Trojans had six runners left on base. 

Lopez (L, 5-11) recorded the setback in the pitching circle for DSU.  She tossed a complete game and gave up four runs (one unearned) on 13 hits.  She struck out three Bruins' batters.

Monique Ashley (W, 13-7) earned the victory after working for five-plus innings for BU.  She allowed two runs on seven hits and recorded six strikeouts.  Sharpe (S, 1) earned her first save of the season after shutting down the Trojans in the final two innings, yielding one hit.

Game 2 – (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 7 – FINAL

Dakota State's comeback in the second game of the NSAA doubleheader fell short, despite trailing 4-0 in the first two-and-half innings.  The Trojans outhit the Bruins 14-12.

Teran kicked off the game with a walk for BU.  She advanced to second base after a ground out by Sharpe.  Kinman hit a ground out to advance Teran to third base.  Ashley Young hit an RBI single to score Teran for BU's 1-0 lead.

Emily Rochford followed up with an RBI double to score Young, extending Bruins' lead to 2-0 in the top first.

Bellevue plated two more runs in the top third frame.  Kinman hit a single, followed by Young's double to advance Kinman to third base.  After a wild pitch by DSU, Kinman was tagged out at home (Young advanced to third base on the same play).  Rochford reached on base by a walk.

Glotfelty drilled a 2-RBI double to score Young and Rochford to balloon Bruins' lead to 4-0.

Dakota State rallied back in the bottom third frame, scoring three runs with two outs.  Motichka reached on base caused by BU's defensive error.  Nicole Stewart smashed an RBI double to score Motichka as the Trojans trailed 4-1.

Lopez hit a single to advance Stewart to third base in the bottom third for DSU.  Poe drilled a 2-RBI double to score Stewart and Poe as the Trojans cut BU's lead to 4-3.

Dakota State scored a run in the bottom fourth, thanks to a pair of extra-base hits.  Ingui hit a triple, while Motichka produced an RBI single to score Ingui to knot the game at 4-4.

After Kinman hit a single with one out in the top fifth, Young blasted a 2-run home run as Bellevue regained their lead to 6-4.

The Trojans scored once in the bottom half of the fifth inning, despite producing four hits.  Lopez and Poe led off with back-to-back singles.  Ronke followed up with a single to set up a bases loaded situation for DSU.

Ingui produced an RBI single to score Hope Johnson (pinch runner for Lopez) as Dakota State cut Bellevue's lead to 6-5.  The Trojans were unable to convert more scoring chances as they left three runners on base when the fifth inning ended.

Bellevue extended their lead to 8-5 in the top sixth frame, highlighted by Sharpe's 2-RBI triple.

With bases loaded situation in the bottom sixth inning, Ronke hit a 2-RBI single to score Kailee McFadden and Lopez as the Trojans trailed by one run at 8-7.

Dakota State left one runner on base in the final inning, securing the win for Bellevue.

Stewart and Poe each had a double and two singles for DSU.  Motichka, Lopez, Ronke and Ingui each collected two hits.  Poe and Ronke each tallied two RBIs.  Motichka, Stewart and Ingui each had an RBI. 

Young was 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, double, single and drove in three runs for BU.  Kinman, Glotfelty and Maricela Egan each had two hits.  Sharpe had a triple and two RBIs.  Glotfelty registered two RBIs.

The Trojans left 11 runners on base compared to the Bruins six runners left on base.

Stefani Gollin (L, 3-9) tossed a complete game, despite the defeat for Dakota State.  She gave up eight runs on 12 hits. 

Brieanna Bock (W, 13-2) registered the victory in the pitching circle for Bellevue.  She worked for four-plus innings and allowed five runs (three unearned) on nine hits.  Sharpe (S, 2) earned her second save of the day, pitching in the final three innings.  She gave up two runs on five hits and recorded four strikeouts.

It was the final career collegiate home softball game at Thue Softball Complex for five DSU's seniors – Brokiewicz, Gollin, Jayme Knauer, Poe and Ronke.

Up Next

Dakota State closes out their regular-season schedule this weekend in La Crosse, Wis.  The Trojans visit Viterbo (Wis.) in the North Star Athletic Association's four-game series.  The series will be held at Outdoor Athletics Complex, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Bellevue returns home this weekend as they host Waldorf (Iowa) in NSAA's four-game series at Roy Smith Field in Omaha, Neb.  They kick off the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director