March 13, 2020
TUCSON, Ariz. – Dakota State (S.D.) met No. 14-ranked Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) for the second time this week, wrapping up the Tucson (Ariz.) Softball Invitational Friday afternoon at Lincoln Park. The Trojans mounted a late comeback but felt short to the Tigers by the score of 9-4.
Dakota State wrapped up the tournament with 2-4 record, holding a 2-12 overall record. Olivet Nazarene lifted their overall record to 19-5.
The North Star Athletic Association has issued a 'pause' to their athletic activities until March 30. The Trojans are scheduled to return home on April 4-5 as they host the NSAA four-game series versus Mayville State (N.D.) at Flynn Field. Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics website for future updates on schedule.
(14) Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL
- Both teams were unable to score in the first two innings of the game.
- The Tigers took the first lead of the game after plating four runs in the top third. Makenna Emerson led off with a double. Kori Fricke produced an RBI single to score Emerson to give ONU a 1-0 lead. Kelley Rinker followed up with an RBI triple to score Fricke to give Olivet Nazarene a 2-0 lead.
- ONU made it 3-0 in the top fourth as Sara Beers drilled an RBI double to score Rinker. Beers swiped to third and advanced home after Alli Davis' RBI sacrifice fly for 4-0 Tigers lead.
- Dakota State was able to convert their scoring chances after leaving three runners on base, sparked by Kaysea Luna's double, followed by Sarah Torres' single and Nicole Stewart's walk.
- Olivet Nazarene scored once in the top fifth for a 5-1, fueled by Davis' triple followed by Miranda Southall's RBI single.
- DSU ended its scoring drought with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Stewart led off with a double. Wynona Steenhoven, pinch runner for Stewart, swiped to third base. Vinitzia Blanco reached safely on base after ONU's defensive miscue, allowing Steenhoven to score and trailed 5-1. The Trojans added a run caused by ONU's second defensive error of the sixth inning, cutting their deficit to 5-2.
- The Tigers scored four runs in the top seventh inning, highlighted by Southall's 2-RBI home run. Rinker added a 2-RBI single to widen ONU's lead to 9-2.
- Torres hit a single with one out in the bottom seventh inning for DSU. Stewart blasted a 2-run home run as the Trojans' cut ONU's lead to 9-4. She extended her all-time school record 22nd home run at DSU.
- Dakota State left one runner on base when the game ended.
- Torres was perfect at the plate, going 4-of-4 with four singles and a run scored for the Trojans. Stewart added a home run, double and drove in two runs. Xitlali Lopez added two singles. Madison Aldendifer hit a double and single. Blanco, Julia Anderson, Luna and Elizabeth Whitesides each registered a hit.
- Southall had a home run, single and drove in three runs for the Tigers. Rinker added two singles and three RBIs. Emerson had two doubles and a single. Davis had a triple and an RBI. Beers tallied two hits and an RBI.
- Both teams pound out 14 hits and left eight runners on base in the game.
- Lopez (L, 1-3) tossed a complete game, despite the defeat in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She allowed nine runs (one unearned) on 14 hits.
- Fricke (W, 4-0) earned a complete game victory for Olivet Nazarene. She gave up four runs on 14 hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director