April 28, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff (Iowa) used a four-run production in both games to break a 2-2 tie for a pair of non-conference softball doubleheader victory over Dakota State (S.D.) Wednesday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Field.  The Chargers scored four runs in the bottom sixth to earn a 6-2 victory in the first game, while scoring four runs in the bottom third frame to produce an 8-3 victory in the second game.

Dakota State fell to 14-30 overall record.  Briar Cliff evened their overall record to 22-22.

The Trojans wrap up their road schedule with another doubleheader Thursday, visiting Northwestern (Iowa).  The doubleheader kicks off with the first game at 3 p.m. at NW Softball Complex in Orange City, Iowa.

Game 1:  Briar Cliff (Iowa) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

• The Trojans grabbed its first lead of the game with a run scored in the top first inning.  Elizabeth Whitesides led off with a walk.  She advanced to second base by BCU's passed ball, followed by a wild pitch by the Chargers to advance Whitesides to third base.
• Madison Aldendifer reached on base by Briar Cliff's defensive miscue, allowing Whitesides to score for 1-0 DSU lead.
• The Chargers answered with two runs in the bottom first inning to overtake the lead.  Callie Billings recorded a bunt single.  Alexis Westercamp followed up with a single to advance Billings to second base.  Kennedy Anderson was hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation for BCU.
• Kylee Lukes produced an RBI ground out to score Billings, followed by Aubrey Chichurka's RBI single to score Westercamp for 2-1 BCU lead in the bottom first.
• The Trojans drilled a pair of doubles in the top fifth inning to knot the game at 2-2.  Lia Chan led off with a double and scored home with one out after Mackenzie Sims blasted a double to deep right-center.
• Briar Cliff plated four runs in the bottom half of the sixth frame to regain their lead, highlighted by 2-RBI double by Allie Poston followed by an RBI double by Lukes for a 6-2 lead.
• Dakota State left two runners on base in the final inning, despite a single each by Chan and Sims as the Chargers secured the victory.
• Sims and Chan each went 2-of-3 at the plate with a double and single for DSU.  Sims and Aldendifer each produced an RBI.  Xotchil Lopez added a single.  Whitesides and Melissa Krapf each had a walk.  Alexus Foster swiped one base.
• BCU's Billings had two singles and scored twice.  Lukes had a double, single and drove in two runs.  Poston had a double and two RBIs.  Brooke Masi tallied two singles.
• Briar Cliff collected 11 hits in the game compared to Dakota State five hits.  The Chargers left nine runners on base, while the Trojans had six players left on base. 
• Xitlali Lopez (L, 9-13) took the setback, despite tossing a complete game for DSU.  She gave up six runs on 11 hits.
• Grace Delay started the game for the Chargers and was replaced by Mackenna Raby.  Raby worked for 4 1/3 innings in relief, giving up a run on three hits.  Mailee Jensen (W, 13-9) recorded the victory as she shut down the Trojans in the final 2 2/3 innings of the game, yielding two hits.

Game 2:  Briar Cliff (Iowa) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

• Briar Cliff used another four-run production in the bottom third to break up a 2-2 tie and held off Dakota State by the score of 8-3.
• The Chargers earned a 2-0 lead in the bottom second frame after a 2-run home run blast by Samantha Macdonald.
• The Trojans answered with two runs in the top third.  Sims led off with a single.  She advanced to second base after Rosie Philop's ground out.  Xo. Lopez hit an RBI double to score Sims as DSU trailed 2-1.
• After Jacquelyn Folkers reached on base by a walk in the top third, Aldendifer produced an RBI single to score Xo. Lopez as DSU knotted the game at 2-2.
• Briar Cliff exploded for four runs in the bottom third inning, thanks to Aubrey Chichurka's 3-RBI bases clearing double for a 5-2 lead.  She advanced to third after Rachele Heaton's single.  Chichurka swiped home to balloon BCU's lead to 6-2.
• With bases loaded situation in the bottom fourth frame with two outs, Macdonald hit a 2-RBI single to extend BCU's lead to 8-2.
• Dakota State scored once in the top sixth inning.  Olivia Peterson hit a single and swiped to second base.  Foster hit an RBI single to score Peterson as the Trojans trailed 8-3.
• DSU left a runner on base in the final inning with Xo. Lopez's single, securing the doubleheader sweep for BCU.
• Lopez had a double, single and drove in a run for Dakota State.  Aldendifer added two singles and an RBI.  Foster, Sims, Peterson and Madissen Larson each had a hit.  Peterson and Foster each swiped one base.
• Macdonald led the Chargers with a home run, single and drove in three runs.  Chichurka added a double and collected three RBIs.  Westercamp had a double and single.  Josie Chronic, Billings, Poston, Lukes and Rachele Heaton each had a hit.
• BCU outhit DSU 10-9 in the game.  The Trojans left nine runners on base compared to the Chargers five runners left on base.
• Aldendifer (L, 0-5) took the defeat in the pitching circle after working for 3 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits for Dakota State.  Xo. Lopez tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief, limiting BCU to two hits.
• Kayla Guerrero started the game for Briar Cliff.  She allowed two runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.  Bella Valdez pitched in the third inning, giving up a hit to DSU's batter.  Raby (W, 1-1) earned the victory after tossing 4 1/3 innings, yielding one run on three hits.  She recorded four strikeouts.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director