May 2, 2019
NSAA TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTER
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Seventh-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) outhit second-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) 6-4 Thursday morning in the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Tournament at Tharaldson Field. The Bruins won the battle of the pitcher's duel coupled with Erin Sharpe's 2-run home run to hold off the Trojans 3-0.
DSU opened up the game with back-to-back singles by Quinn Motichka and Nicole Stewart but was unable to score. The Trojans held the Bruins hitless through the first two innings.
Ashlyn Teran drilled a double with two outs for the Bruins in the bottom third frame. Sharpe, a 3-time North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Year, blasted a 2-run home run to earn a 2-0 lead in favor of BU. It was her 25th home run of the season.
Bellevue, which extended their winning streak to 13 games, got an RBI single by Grace Glotfelty to widen their lead to 3-0 in the bottom fourth.
The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chances in the top fifth, despite leaving runners on third and second base.
DSU left a runner on base when the game ended, lifting Bellevue's overall record to 42-16 on the season.
Sharpe led the Bruins with a home run and two RBIs. Glotfelty added a single and an RBI. Teran had a double.
Tatum Ronke went 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles. Motichka, Stewart, Xitlali Lopez and Annalisa Ingui each added a hit
DSU left nine runners on base compared to BU two runners left on base.
Monique Ashley (W, 17-7) earned the complete game victory. She recorded six strikeouts.
Lopez (L, 6-12) took the defeat after pitching a complete game. She gave up three runs on four hits and registered two strikeouts.
Bellevue awaits the winner of No. 6 seed Viterbo (Wis.) and No. 3 seed Mayville State (N.D.) at VCSU Softball Complex. Dakota State will play the loser of VU-MSU at Tharaldson Field. Both games are slated for 4 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
