February 22, 2020

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) wrapped their Presentation (S.D.) Dome tournament with a pair of setbacks against North Dakota teams Saturday afternoon.  The Trojans could not hold on to their lead in the first game, falling short to their North Star's conference foe and preseason league favorite to win the title No. 10-ranked Valley City State (N.D.).  DSU closed out the tournament with a 15-4 five-inning defeat to Jamestown (N.D.).

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 0-8.  Valley City State improved to 2-6 overall record, while Jamestown lifted their overall record to 7-1.

The Trojans take a week off before returning to action in early March.  DSU travels to Tucson, Ariz. for an eight-game slate in the Tucson Invitational Games from March 9 through March 13.

(10) Valley City State (N.D.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 8 – FINAL

• Dakota State opened the game by scoring three runs.  Elizabeth Whitesides kicked off the game with a walk.  She advanced to second base after VCSU's passed ball.  She also swiped to third base.  Nicole Stewart drilled an RBI double to score Whitesides to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
• Annalisa Ingui reached safely on base caused by Vikings' error and advanced Stewart to second base.  Vinitzia Blanco hit a single to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.  Rosie Philop and Madison Aldendifer each produced back-to-back RBI walks to score Stewart and Ingui, widening DSU's lead to 3-0.
• Valley City State scored twice in the bottom first frame, caused by a pair of defensive errors by Dakota State.  The Vikings cut the Trojans' lead to 3-2 after the first inning.
• Whitesides began the third inning with a walk.  Stewart hit a single with one out and advanced Whitesides to second base.  Ingui produced an RBI single to score Whitesides as the Trojans' lead grew to 4-2.
• VCSU took advantage of back-to-back extra-base hits to produce a run in the bottom fourth.  Madison Gronau hit a double, followed by Joelle Aiello's RBI triple as the Vikings trailed 4-3.
• Dakota State plated two runs in the top fifth frame.  Philop led off with a walk and advanced to second base after Aldendifer's sacrifice bunt.  Whitesides added a walk with two outs.  Sarah Torres added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.  Stewart hit a 2-RBI single to score Philop and Whitesides to give DSU a 6-3 lead.
• Sierra Crocker hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the fifth inning as VCSU trimmed DSU's lead to 6-4.
• Valley City State exploded for five runs in the bottom sixth inning to earn their first lead of the game at 9-6.
• The Trojans mounted a comeback in the final inning with two runs scored.  Torres hit a single with one out.  Stewart smashed a 2-run home run as DSU trailed 9-8.  VCSU secured the game by recording the final two outs. 
• Stewart paced the Trojans' offense attack by going 4-of-5 at the plate with a home run, double, two singles and drove in a game-high five runs.  Blanco added two singles.  Torres, Ingui and Philop each had a hit and a run scored.
• Dakota State reached on base by a walk nine times, led by Whitesides with four walks.  Her four walks tied the DSU softball single-game school record with Jeny Garst versus Minot State (N.D.) during the 2005 season.  Philop and Aldendifer each added two walks.
• Aiello had a triple, single, two runs scored and produced two RBIs for the Vikings.  Crocker had a home run and an RBI.  Autumn Perry, Marissa Hawkins and Keana Harmon each registered a hit and an RBI.
• Dakota State outhit Valley City State 10-8 in the game.  The Trojans committed five defensive errors compared to the Vikings one defensive miscue.  DSU left 12 runners on base, while VCSU had eight runners left on base.
• Xitlali Lopez (L, 0-2) took the defeat after tossing 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs (two unearned) on eight hits for DSU.  She recorded four strikeouts.  Xotchil Lopez worked the final out of the bottom sixth, giving up an unearned r un.
• Amber Stewart started the game for the Vikings.  She pitched for 5 2/3 innings and gave up six runs (two unearned) on eight hits.  She issued nine walks.  Joelle Lamontagne (W, 1-3) earned the victory after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits.

Jamestown (N.D.) 15, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL/5 innings

• Jamestown pound out 18 hits and poured in 15 runs, rolling past Dakota State 15-4 in the tournament's finale.  The Jimmies scored in every inning, capped by a seven-run in the fifth inning to secure the victory.
• Trailing 5-0 in the bottom second inning, the Trojans scored four runs to cut UJ's lead to 5-4.  Faith Danner and Kaysea Luna hit back-to-back doubles, where Luna produced an RBI to score Danner as DSU trailed 5-1.
• Aldendifer reached on base by a walk.  Whitesides hit an infield single, while Luna scored home on UJ's defense indifference (DSU trailed 5-2).  Torres smashed a 2-RBI double to score Aldendifer and Whitesides as the Jimmies' lead went down by one run.
• Jamestown scored twice in the top third inning as their lead grew to 7-4 and never looked back.
• Torres led the Trojans with a double and two RBIs.  Stewart added two singles.  Danner had a double.  Luna produced a double and RBI.  Whitesides, Blano, Ingui, and Xitali Lopez each had a hit.
• Katie Reisdorfer was 3-of-3 at the plate with four RBIs.  Mikayla Frost added three hits and drove in two runs.  Santina Zito also went 3-of-3 with an RBI.  Megan Neiles and Steph Cota each recorded two hits and two RBIs.
• Aldendifer (L, 0-2) recorded the defeat after tossing 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs (one unearned) on five hits.  Danner worked for 2 2/3 innings in relief and allowed 10 runs (one unearned) on 13 hits.
• Ann-Marie Crandlemire started the game and pitched 1 1/3 innings for UJ.  She allowed four runs on seven hits.  Maggie Wallin (W, 1-0) earned the victory after pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings.  She yielded two hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director