April 17, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Trailing 3-0 in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association doubleheader with Presentation (S.D.) Saturday afternoon at Thue Field, Dakota State rallied back for a 4-3 victory after a two-out walk-off RBI single by McKenzie Hermanson for the first home win of the season.  The Trojans closed out the four-game series with a 9-1 six-inning rout over the Saints to earn a split.

Dakota State snapped their eight-game losing skid, improving their overall record to 12-24.  Presentation fell to 7-23 overall record.  Both DSU and PC are tied for fifth place in the conference standings after Saturday's games.

It was the first home win for the Trojans since April 29, 2018.  In addition, it was the first time since April 9, 2016 that DSU collected two home NSAA conference victories on the same day.

Dakota State continues their season-high eight-game home stand on Tuesday, hosting Dordt (Iowa) in a non-conference doubleheader.  First game of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. at Thue Field.

Game 1:  Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Presentation (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

• Presentation held a 3-0 lead through five-and-half innings in the first game before Dakota State roared back for the victory.
• The Saints kicked off the game with a run scored in the top first frame.  Yulissa Pena hit a single.  Bella Pinottia followed up with an RBI double to score Pena for PC's 1-0 lead.
• Presentation added a run in the top second.  Cassy Loa led off with a walk and advanced to second base after DSU's passed ball.  Sam VanderWel drilled an RBI double with two outs to score Loa, extending PC's lead to 2-0.
• With bases loaded situation with two outs in the top fourth, Pena recorded an RBI walk to widen Presentation's lead to 3-0.
• The Trojans mounted a furious comeback in the bottom sixth inning, plating three runs.  After Melissa Krapf fielder's choice, she advanced to second base after PC's wild pitch.  Madison Aldendifer produced an RBI single to score Krapf as Dakota State trailed 3-1.
• On the same play, Aldendifer advanced to second base after a defensive miscue by the Saints in the bottom sixth.  Elizabeth Whitesides reached safely on base by another PC's defensive error (Aldendifer advanced to third base).
• Whitesides advanced to second base on defensive indifference in the bottom sixth for DSU.  The Trojans continued its scoring surge as Torres hit a 2-RBI single to score Aldendifer and Whitesides, tying the game at 3-3.
• Xitlali Lopez led off the bottom seventh with a single for Dakota State.  She was forced out at second base after Vinitzia Blanco fielder's choice.  Xotchil Lopez followed up with another fielder's choice, while Olivia Peterson (pinch runner for Blanco) was forced out at second base.
• Krapf reached on base by a walk and advanced Xo. Lopez to third base for the Trojans in the bottom sixth.  Hermanson hit a walk-off RBI single to score Xo. Lopez, securing a thrilling come-from-behind victory.
• Hermanson and Aldendifer each had a single and an RBI for Dakota State.  Torres and Xi. Lopez each added two singles.  Whitesides, Lia Chan and Krapf each hit a single.  Krapf reached on base by a walk twice.  Xi. Lopez and Xo. Lopez each had a walk. 
• VanderWel and Pinotti each hit a double and an RBI for Presentation.  Pena added a single, two walks and an RBI.  Hannah Larson and Victoria Vau each had a single. 
• DSU outhit PC 9-5 in the game.  The Trojans left 11 runners on base compared to the Saints six runners on base.
• Aldendifer started the game for DSU, tossing four innings.  She allowed three runs on five hits.  Xi. Lopez earned the victory after tossing three innings in relief, retiring nine straight PC batters.  She recorded five strikeouts.
• Lauren Paredes (L, 3-13) recorded the setback after pitching 6 2/3 innings for PC.  She gave up four runs (two unearned) on nine hits.

Game 2:  Dakota State (S.D.) 9, Presentation (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/6 innings

• Dakota State scored at least one run in every inning, except the fifth inning, to close the NSAA four-game series with a split after a 9-1 victory in six innings.
• Whitesides led off the Trojans with a single in the bottom first frame.  She advanced to second base after a passed ball by the Saints.  After Krapf's ground out to advance Whitesides to third base, Torres produced an RBI ground out to score Whitesides to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
• DSU added two more runs in the bottom second with two outs.  Chan hit a single and advanced to second base after Xo. Lopez's ground out.  Julia Andersen reached safely on base by PC's defensive error and advanced Chan to third base.  Andersen swiped to second base.
• Aldendifer hit a 2-RBI single to score Chan and Andersen, ballooning Trojans' lead to 3-0 in the bottom second.
• Presentation scored its only run in the top third inning, highlighted by Camille Vestal's lead-off triple.  Pena hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Vestal, trimming DSU's lead to 3-1.
• DSU answered with two more runs in the bottom half of the third inning.  Torres led off with a single, followed by Xi. Lopez's RBI double to score Torres for 4-1 Trojans' lead.  Blanco reached on base by Saints' miscue.  Chan hit a fielder's choice to advance Madissen Larson, pinch runner for Xi. Lopez, to third base.
• Dakota State made it 5-1 after Xo. Lopez's RBI sacrifice fly to score Larson in the bottom third.
• The Trojans added two more runs in the bottom fourth.  After Aldendifer reached on base by a fielder's choice, Whitesides recorded a bunt single to advance Aldendifer to second base.  The Saints committed a defensive error on the next play as Krapf reached safely on base to set up a bases loaded situation.
• Torres recorded an RBI to score Aldendifer as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 6-1 in the bottom fourth (Krapf was forced out at second base).  Xi. Lopez followed up with an RBI single to score Whitesides as DSU's lead grew to 7-1.
• Dakota State ended the game in the bottom sixth inning with one out.  Krapf and Torres led off with back-to-back singles.  Xi. Lopez hit a ground out to advance Krapf to third base and Torres to second base, Blanco hit a 2-RBI single to score Krapf and Torres to secure a 9-1 win.
• Torres and Xi. Lopez each tallied two hits and drove in two runs for DSU.  Whitesides was 3-of-4 at the plate and scored twice.  Blanco and Aldendifer each had a single and collected two RBIs.  Krapf and Chan each had a single and scored once.  Xo. Lopez had an RBI. 
• Vestal recorded a triple and scored once for PC.  Pena had an RBI.  Larson, Brooke Beaman and Lo each added a hit.
• Dakota State pound out 11 hits in the game compared to Presentation four hits.  The Saints committed four errors in the game, while the Trojans had one defensive error.
• DSU left seven runners on base.  PC had six runners left on base.
• Xi. Lopez (W, 7-10) collected her second pitching win after tossing a complete game for Dakota State.  She yielded the Saints to one run on four hits. 
• Pena (L, 4-10) recorded the defeat after pitching 5 1/3 innings for Presentation.  She allowed nine runs (three unearned) on 11 hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director