April 29, 2021

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Trailing 2-1 after six innings in the first game of the non-conference softball doubleheader at NW Softball Complex, Dakota State (S.D.) rallied back with a two-run production in the final inning and held off Northwestern (Iowa) 3-2.  The Red Raiders pound out 19 hits in the second game to gain an 18-5 victory in five innings to earn a doubleheader split.

Dakota State, who was playing their final road contests of the season, is 15-31 overall record.  Northwestern, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, is 26-14 overall record.

The Trojans recorded its first victory over the Red Raiders since 2003 after a 3-2 game one comeback.  In addition, Dakota State earned its first win in Orange City.

DSU returns home to wrap up their regular-season schedule, hosting Viterbo (Wis.) in the final North Star Athletic Association four-game series of the season.  The four-game series kick off on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m., followed by another doubleheader on Sunday at 12 p.m.  Senior Day will be held on Sunday.

Game 1:  Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Northwestern (Iowa) 2 – FINAL

• Northwestern jumped to a 2-0 early lead in the bottom first inning.  Jessia Mouw hit a single with one out and swiped to second base.  She advanced to third base after Jennifer Boeve's single.
• Boeve swiped to second base in the top first for the Red Raiders.  Erika McKenny hit an RBI single to score Mouw for 1-0 NWIA lead (Boeve advanced to third base).  Bri Giordano earned an RBI fielder's choice to score Boeve to extend their lead to 2-0.
• Dakota State threatened to score their first runs of the top fourth inning but could not convert their scoring chances.  The Trojans left the bases full when the top fourth ended.
• Northwestern produced three singles in the bottom fifth inning and did not convert their scoring opportunities as the Trojans trailed 2-0.
• DSU ended their scoring drought with a run scored in the top sixth, thanks to a lead-off double by Mackenzie Sims.  Xitlali Lopez followed up with an RBI single to score Sims as the Trojans cut NWIA's lead to 2-1.
• Dakota State stormed back in the final inning with two runs scored.  Madison Aldendifer hit a single.  She advanced to second base after McKenzie Hermanson's ground out, recording the second out of the top seventh. 
• Sims added a single to advance Aldendifer to third base for DSU in the top seventh frame.  Xi. Lopez produced an RBI single to score Aldendifer, tying the game at 2-2.
• Vinitzia Blanco drilled an RBI double to score Sims as the Dakota State earned a 3-2 lead in the top seventh inning.
• Northwestern's Emily Bosch hit a double with one out in the bottom half of the seventh inning.  Mouw added a bunt single as Bosch advanced to third base.  Mouw swiped to second base.
• Boeve was struck out swinging for the second out of the bottom seventh for the Red Raiders.  McKenney reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.
• The Trojans' defense halted the Red Raiders to score as the game ended with a ground out to the pitcher by Bri Giordano.
• Sims sparked DSU's offense attack with a double, single, walk, and scored twice.  She swiped one base.  Xi. Lopez added two singles and drove in two runs.  Blanco had a double and an RBI.  Xotchil Lopez and Rosie Philop each tallied a single.
• Mouw was 2-of-2 at the plate with two singles, two walks, and four stolen bases for NWIA.  McKenney had a single, walk, and an RBI.  Bosch, Boeve, Jordyn Kramer, Alayna Bakke and Madysn Grotewold each recorded a hit.
• Both teams registered eight hits in the game.  The Red Raiders left nine runners on base compared to the Trojans seven runners left on base.
• Xi. Lopez (W, 10-14) earned her 10th pitching victory of the season after tossing a complete game for Dakota State.  She allowed two runs on eight hits.  She struck out four NWIA batters, increasing her strikeouts total to 255 which is second all-time in school history.
• Samantha Ubben (L, 7-8) recorded the setback as she pitched a complete game.  She gave up three runs on eight hits.  She registered six strikeouts. 

Game 2:  Northwestern (Iowa) 18, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL/5 innings

• Northwestern raced to a 6-0 lead in the opening inning, highlighted by a pair of home runs.  After Bosch and Mouw hit back-to-back singles, McKenney blasted a 3-run home run with one out to give Red Raiders a 3-0 lead.
• NWIA capped the first inning with an inside the park home run by Bakke, extending their lead to 6-0.
• The Trojans scored once in the top second.  Lia Chan hit a double with one out.  Melissa Krapf reached on base by a walk.  Alexus Foster followed up with a single to set up a bases loaded situation.  Julia Anderson produced an RBI ground out to score Chan as DSU trailed 6-1.
• Gioradano and Sydney Johnson hit back-to-back RBI single to extend Northwestern's lead to 8-1.
• Dakota State answered with two runs in the top third.  Xi. Lopez led off with a walk.  Blanco hit a single to advance Xi. Lopez to third base.  Xo. Lopez hit an RBI single to score Xi. Lopez as DSU trimmed the Red Raiders' lead to 8-2.
• Foster added an RBI single to score Xo. Lopez as the Trojans trailed 8-3 in the top third frame.
• Mouw produced an RBI single, followed by Boeve's RBI double extended Northwestern's lead to 10-3 after three innings.
• Aldendifer led off the top fourth inning with a single.  Xi. Lopez blasted a 2-run home run as the Trojans trimmed the Red Raiders' lead to 10-5.  It was her fifth home run this season, her 16th career home run at DSU (fourth all-time).
• Northwestern exploded for eight runs in the bottom fourth inning, ballooning their lead to 18-5.
• The Red Raiders retired the final three DSU batters to secure the victory in five innings.
• Xi. Lopez had a home run, two walks and two RBIs for the Trojans.  Blanco added two singles.  Xo. Lopez had a single and an RBI.  Foster recorded two singles and an RBI.  Chan had a double.  Aldendifer and Philop each tallied a single.
• Mouw led the Red Raiders with three singles, three runs and an RBI.  Johnson added four singles and drove in three runs.  Bakke had a home run, single and two RBIs.  McKenney hit a home run and collected three RBIs.  Bosch recorded two singles.
• The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the Red Raiders five runners left on base.
• Aldendifer (L, 0-6) took the defeat after working the first two innings for Dakota State.  Philop and Xo. Lopez also pitched in relief.
• Sydnee Isom (W, 3-2) earned the victory for Northwestern.  She worked for four innings and allowed five runs on nine hits.  Ubben tossed a shutout fifth inning in relief.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director