May 6, 2021

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BELLEVUE, Neb. – Xotchil Lopez went 4-of-4 at the plate combined with her sister Xitlali Lopez's complete game to fuel fifth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) to a 3-1 mild upset victory over fourth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) in the opening round of the 2021 North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Tournament at Lied Field Thursday morning.

DSU snapped their eight-game losing skid in the series meeting with the Comets, with the last win coming on April 6, 2019.  The Trojans improved to 19-32 overall record and improved to 6-6 record on neutral sites.  Dakota State won their third straight game, including their fifth win in the last seven games.

MSU, who swept the DSU in the North Star's four-game series on April 10-11 in Mayville, N.D., fell to 19-22 overall record and remained winless on neutral sites this season (0-7 record on neutral sites).  The Comets dropped their seventh straight game.

Dakota State awaits the winner of No. 8 seed Presentation (S.D.) and No. 1 seed Valley City State (N.D.) in the winner's bracket.  First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. this evening at Lied Field (north field).  Mayville State plays in the loser's out bracket at 3 p.m. against the loser of PC-VCSU on the same field.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mayville State (N.D.) 1 – FINAL

• Xi. Lopez sparked the Trojans to their first lead after hitting a double with two outs in the top first inning.  Sarah Torres reached on base by a walk with one out.  Xi. Lopez followed up with an RBI double to score Torres to give DSU a 1-0 early lead.
• The Comets were unable to score in the bottom half of the first inning as they left runners on third and first base as DSU maintained a 1-0 lead.
• Mayville State scored its only run of the game in the bottom third frame.  Dayna Gutierrez hit a single with one out and advanced to second base after DSU's wild pitch.  Mackenzie Duval produced an RBI single to score Gutierrez to knot the game at 1-1.
• The Trojans regained their lead in the top fourth inning after plating a run.  Elizabeth Whitesides hit a single with one out.  Julia Andersen added a single with two outs to advance Whitesides to second base.  Torres hit an RBI single to score Whitesides as DSU earned a 2-1 lead.
• Xo. Lopez blasted a lead-off home run in the top fifth inning as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 3-1.  It was her third home run of the season.
• Mayville State threatened to score in the bottom half of the fifth inning with runners on third and second bases with one out.  Xi. Lopez retired the final two MSU batters of the inning as DSU held on to a 3-1 lead.
• The Comets left a runner on first base in the final inning when the game ended, securing the victory for the Trojans.
• Xo. Lopez collected a home run, three singles and drove in two runs for Dakota State.  Xi. Lopez added a double and single.  Torres tallied a single, walk and an RBI.  Whitesides had a single.
• Gutierrez led the Comets with two singles.  Duval added a single and an RBI.  Jocelyn Ontiveros had a single.
• DSU outhit MSU 9-4 in the game.  The Trojans left eight runners on base compared to the Comets seven runners left on base.
• Xi. Lopez (W, 14-13) tossed a complete game for her 14th win, tying for second most single-season victories with Jami Fischer (2003) for Dakota State.  Xi. Lopez also tied for the most all-time pitching victories with 31 wins (Stephanie Brakel from 2004-07).  She limited the Comets to one unearned run on four hits.
• Shaye Kemball (L, 6-9) took the complete game setback for Mayville State.  She allowed three runs on nine hits and recorded five strikeouts.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director