March 9, 2021

McPHERSON, Kan. – The Dakota State University Trojan softball team continued its action in the state of Kansas with a non-conference doubleheader on a windy Tuesday with McPherson (Kan.) at Bulldog Park.  The Bulldogs swept the Trojans by the scores of 9-2 and 7-2.

Dakota State fell to 4-8 overall record.  McPherson, receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, improved to 6-6 overall record.

The Trojans visit another KCAC opponent on Wednesday, traveling to Tabor (Kan.) at Hillsboro Recreation Center.  The first game of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. in Hillsboro, Kan.

Game 1: (RV) McPherson (Kan.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

• Elizabeth Whitesides, Rosie Philop, and Sarah Torres kicked off the game with three straight singles to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.  Vinitzia Blanco was lined out into a double play with Whitesides being out at third base.
• Xitlali Lopez followed up with an RBI single to score Philop to give DSU its first lead of the game at 1-0.
• McPherson answered back with two runs scored in the bottom half of the first inning.  Destiny Bacon led off with a triple.  Mackenzie Egan reached on base by a walk with one out.  Bacon stole home to knot the game at 1-1 (Egan swiped to second base). 
• Egan was caught stealing at third base for the second out of the bottom first inning.
• Maile Deutsch blasted a solo home run to left field as the Bulldogs earned a 2-1 lead in the bottom first.
• McPherson ballooned their lead to 3-1 in the bottom second.  Kylecia Taylor hit a double with one out, followed by Taylor Perez's RBI single to score Taylor.
• Perez added a 2-RBI single to widen the Bulldogs' lead to 5-1 in the bottom third inning.
• Dakota State snapped its scoring drought with a run scored in the top fifth.  Xotchil Lopez led off with a single.  Olivia Peterson, pinch runner for Xotchil Lopez, swiped to second base with one out.  Whitesides hit a single and advanced Peterson to third base.
• After Whitesides swiped to second base, Philop produced an RBI fielder's choice to score Peterson as the Trojans cut McPherson's lead to 5-2.
• The Bulldogs exploded for four runs in the bottom sixth frame, extending their lead to 9-2.
• McPherson secured the game in the final inning as they recorded three straight outs.
• Whitesides and Torres each went 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles for Dakota State.  Philop and Xitlali Lopez each had a single and an RBI.  Xotchil Lopez recorded a single.
• Deutsch had a home run, double and drove in two runs for McPherson.  Perez added two singles and collected three RBIs.  Bacon registered a triple and a single.  Macee Hollins had two hits.
• The Bulldogs outhit the Trojans 11-7 in the game.  McPherson left ten runners left on base compared to the Trojans five runners left on base.
• Xitlali Lopez (L, 2-3) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for DSU.  She allowed eight runs on ten hits and recorded six strikeouts.  Annalisa Ingui worked the final two outs in the bottom sixth in relief.
• Brittany Baroni (W, 1-1) earned the victory after tossing 4 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs.  She yielded the Trojans to two runs on seven hits and registered four strikeouts.

Game 2:  (RV) McPherson (Kan.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

• McPherson scored seven runs through six innings in the second game of the doubleheader.  The Trojans halted its scoring skid with a pair of runs in the top seventh inning.
• After a scoreless first inning, the Bulldogs took the first lead of the game in the bottom second inning capped by Bacon's RBI single for a 2-0 lead.  McPherson scored the first run of the game caused by DSU's defensive miscue.
• McPherson extended their lead to 4-0 after a 2-run home run by Brandy Trengove in the bottom third.
• Taylor led off the bottom fifth with a single for the Bulldogs.  She advanced to second base after Ellis Woodruff's ground out to first base.
• Kai Redus hit an RBI single to score Taylor as McPherson's lead grew to 5-0 in the bottom fifth.
• The Bulldogs drilled a pair of doubles to produce two runs in the bottom sixth frame.  Bacon hit a double with one out.  Deutsch added an RBI double with two outs to put McPherson up 6-0.
• MC made it 7-0 as Taylor hit an RBI single to score Deutsch in the bottom sixth inning.
• Dakota State ended its scoring drought in the top seventh.  Madison Aldendifer led off with a walk.  Mackenzie Sims followed up with a single and advanced Aldendifer to second base.  Madison Biller hit an RBI single to score Aldendifer as the Trojans trailed 7-1 (Sims advanced to third base).
• Alexus Foster produced an RBI single to score Sims as DSU cut McPherson's lead to 7-2.
• DSU left a bases loaded situation as the game ended, securing the victory for the Bulldogs.
• Lia Chan led the Trojans with two singles.  Biller and Foster each recorded a single and an RBI.  Philop, Xitlali Lopez and Sims each had a single.  Aldendifer reached on base by a walk once.
• Deutsch paced the Bulldogs with two doubles and an RBI.  Bacon added a triple, double, single and an RBI.  Taylor had three singles and an RBI.  Trengove hit a home run and drove in two runs.
• McPherson had 11 hits compared to Dakota State seven hits.  The Trojans left eight runners on base, while the Bulldogs had seven runners left on base. 
• Xotchil Lopez (L, 0-1) took the setback after tossing three innings in the pitching circle for DSU.  She allowed four runs on five hits.  Biller pitched three innings in relief, giving up three runs on six hits.  She recorded three strikeouts.
• Raegan Kleppe (W, 1-1) earned the victory for McPherson.  She worked for six innings and limited the Trojans to four hits.  She struck out five DSU's batters.  Katy Wilson pitched in the seventh inning, giving up two runs on three hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director