April 6, 2019
CASSELTON, N.D. – Xitali Lopez propelled Dakota State (S.D.) to a 4-1 North Star Athletic Association softball four-game series opener by smashing a 3-run home run and tossed a complete game over Mayville State (N.D.). The Comets produced a five-run third inning and held off the Trojans by the score of 7-2 in the second game to earn a doubleheader split. The series was held at Central Cass High School.
Dakota State is 5-20 overall record and 2-8 record in league play. Mayville State is 13-9 overall record and 6-4 NSAA conference record.
Both teams will wrap up their four-game series Sunday at 12 p.m.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Mayville State (N.D.) 1 – FINAL
Dakota State earned the first lead of the game in the top first inning, thanks to a lead-off triple by Melissa Krapf. She scored home after Nicole Stewart's RBI sacrifice fly to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
Mayville State answered back with a run scored in the bottom half of the first inning. Amanda Izzo hit a single and swiped to second base. Shaye Kemball reached on base caused by DSU's defensive error and allowed Izzo to score as the Comets knotted the game at 1-1.
Both teams were unable to score in the second inning through fourth inning.
Krapf reached on base by a walk with one out in the top fifth frame for the Trojans. Stewart added a single with two outs and advanced Krapf to second base. Lopez smashed a 3-run home run as Dakota State regained their lead at 4-1. It was her fifth home run this season and her eighth career home run at DSU.
The Comets left two runners on base in the bottom seventh inning as the Trojans held on to the victory.
Lopez was 2-of-4 oat the plate with a home run, single and drove in three runs for Dakota State. Tatum Ronke added a double. Sarah Torres was 3-of-3 at the plate with three singles. Krapf had a triple and scored twice.
Izzo was 3-of-4 at the plate for Mayville State. She swiped two bases. Dayna Gutierrez added two hits. Nicole Bunting and Laura Spurgeon each recorded a hit.
DSU had eight hits in the game compared to MSU seven hits. The Comets left eight runners on base while the Trojans left six runners on base.
Lopez (W, 3-6) earned a complete game victory in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She allowed one unearned run on seven hits.
Annika Seedborg (L, 7-5) suffered a complete game setback for Mayville State. She gave up four runs on eight hits and registered eight strikeouts.
Game 2 – Mayville State (N.D.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
After two-and-half scoreless innings in the second game, Mayville State exploded for five runs in the bottom third.
Tai Yamamoto blasted a solo home run to give Comets a 4-0 lead with one out in the third inning. Bunting added an RBI single to extend MSU's lead to 5-0.
DSU halted their scoring drought after scoring one run in the top fourth. Kailee McFadden led off with a walk. She advanced to second base after Stewart's ground out. Annalisa Ingui reached on base caused by MSU's defensive miscue and allowed McFadden to score as the Trojans trailed 5-1.
Ronke led off the top fifth inning with a double. She advanced to third base after Madison Aldendifer's ground out. Jayme Knauer produced an RBI fielder's choice to score Ronke as the Trojans cut Comets' lead to 5-2.
MSU's Kemball and Jade Ledochowski each hit a solo home run in the bottom sixth to balloon their lead to 7-2.
Ronke finished the game with a double and a run scored for DSU. Lopez added a single. Ingui and Knauer each produced an RBI. Krapf and McFadden each had a walk.
Yamamoto had two hits and drove in four runs for MSU. Ledochowski and Sierra Niedge each added two hits. Gutierrez, Kemball, Spurgeon and Bunting each had a hit.
Mayville State outhit Dakota State 10-2. The Comets left 11 runners on base while the Trojans had four runners left on base.
Ingui (L, 0-5) took the loss despite pitching a complete game for the Trojans. She gave up seven runs (one unearned) on 10 hits.
Kemball (W, 6-4) notched the complete game victory for the Comets. She allowed two runs (one unearned) on two hits. She recorded seven strikeouts.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
