February 14, 2020
Photo credit by Mark Potts, VCSU Sports Information Director
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Dakota State University (S.D.) softball team began their 2020 campaign under their first-year head coach Rachel Fricke Friday afternoon. The Trojans fell to the Dordt (Iowa) Defenders with a score of 5-3 in the first game of the Presentation (S.D.) Softball Dome Tournament, dropping their overall record to 0-1.
They are scheduled to play three more games in the Presentation Softball Dome Tournament. The Trojans face their long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the second game Friday afternoon.
The Defenders boosted their overall record to 4-0 after defeating the Trojans. The Defenders came into the game on a winning streak, after sweeping host-team Presentation twice before playing Dakota State with scores of 3-0 and 10-0 on Feb. 13. They also defeated North Star's fellow conference foe and No. 10-ranked Valley City State (S.D.) 4-2 right before meeting the Trojans.
Dordt (Iowa) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL
- The game was scoreless through the first four innings. Dordt plated three runs in the top fifth frame, thanks to back-to-back singles by Chandler Schemper and Haylee Heims and an RBI double by Marissa VandenBerg to give DC a 3-0 lead.
- Dakota State answered with two runs scored in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Sarah Torres and Madison Aldendifer kicked off with back-to-back singles. With bases loaded and one out, Melissa Krapf produced an RBI single to score Aldendifer as the Trojans trailed 3-1.
- Julia Andersen reached safely on base caused by DC's defensive error, allowing Rosie Philop to score as the Trojans cut the Defenders' lead to 3-2.
- Dordt set up a bases loaded situation in the top sixth inning with two outs. Marissa Vandenberg hit a 2-RBI single to extend DC's lead to 5-2.
- Dakota State's Xitlali Lopez blasted a solo home run to begin the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 5-3.
- The Trojans reached on base twice in the final inning (Krapf's single and Andersen's walk). DSU could not convert their scoring chances as the Defenders secured the victory.
- Dakota State was led Krapf and Aldendifer where they had two hits each. Nicole Stewart had a double. Krapf, Andersen and Lopez each recorded an RBI. Torres also had a single.
- Vanden Berg led Dordt with two hits and an RBI. Schemper, Janae Wynja and Heims each had a hit.
- Each team produced three RBIs in the game. DSU outhit DC 8-55. The Defenders left eight runners on base compared to the Trojans six runners left on base.
- Xitlali Lopez (L, 0-1) recorded the setback in the pitching circle, working 6 2/3 innings. She allowed five runs on five hits and registered five strikeouts. Xotchil Lopez tossed the final out of the top seventh inning in relief.
- Dordt's Natalie Fopma (W, 2-0) pitched a complete game victory, giving up three runs on eight hits.
- Both teams will meet for the second meeting in Tucson, Ariz. on March 13, as well a doubleheader at Dordt on April 15.
Madelyn Shockey, DSU Sports Writer