February 18, 2022
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) raced to a 9-0 lead after the first two innings in the softball season opening game versus long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on the first day of the PC Dome Classic. The Trojans rolled to an 11-2 victory in five innings over the Tigers to open the season with an 1-0 record.
It was the first time since the 2019 season that the Trojans won the first game of the season (defeated DWU 9-2 in the PC Dome tournament on Feb. 10, 2019). DWU is 2-5 overall record after the defeat.
Both teams will meet again next month in a doubleheader at Thue Complex, scheduled for March 24.
Dakota State takes on another South Dakota team, Mount Marty (S.D.) with a 2 p.m. first pitch Friday.
Dakota State (S.D.) 11, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 2 – FINAL/5 innings
- Elizabeth Whitesides led off with an opening single for the Trojans. She advanced to second base after a wild pitch by the Tigers with one out.
- Michelle Evdos was hit-by-pitch to reach first base for DSU in the top first inning. After Xotchil Lopez reached on base by a fielder's choice (Whitesides out at third base), Mackenzie Sims reached safely on base after a defensive error by DWU to set up a bases loaded situation.
- Lia Chan smashed a grand slam as Dakota State jumped to a 4-0 early lead in the top first frame with two outs. It was her first career home run at DSU.
- The Trojans continued its offensive explosion in the top second inning, pouring in five runs. Rosie Philop, Carrington Entringer, and Whitesides hit three straight singles to set up a bases loaded situation.
- Sarah Torres drilled a bases-clearing 3 RBIs double to score Philop, Entringer, and Whitesides as DSU ballooned their lead to 7-0.
- Evdos followed up with a single to advance Torres to third base in the top second frame. Lopez hit an RBI double to score Torres to make it 8-0 in favor of Dakota State.
- Chan added an RBI sacrifice fly to score Evdos to extend DSU's lead to 9-0 with two outs in the top ninth inning.
- Entringer and Whitesides hit back-to-back singles in the top third inning. Both Entringer and Whitesides swiped one base. Torres produced an RBI single to score Entringer to widen DSU's lead to 10-0.
- Aubrey Garbarek led off the bottom half of the third inning with a single. Reagan Grossi hit a 2-run home run as the Tigers trimmed DSU's lead to 10-2.
- Chan and Madison Aldendifer hit back-to-back singles in the top fourth inning. Philop followed up with an RBI single to score Chan as the Trojans increased their lead to 11-2.
- The Trojans secured the victory in the bottom fifth inning as the Tigers left a runner on base.
- Chan finished the game by going 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, single, and drove in five runs for Dakota State. Torres added a double, single, and collected four RBIs.
- Whitesides and Entringer each had three singles for DSU. Lopez had a double and an RBI. Philop recorded two singles and an RBI. Evdos had two hits.
- Whitesides, Torres, Philop, and Entringer each swiped one base for the Trojans.
- Grossi was 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, double, and two RBIs for DWU. Garbarek added a single.
- DSU outhit DWU 16-5 in the game.
- Aldendifer (W, 1-0) earned the victory after tossing a complete game. She yielded two runs on five hits and registered five strikeouts in the pitching circle for Dakota State.
- Jacy Linke recorded the defeat after tossing two innings, giving up nine runs (one unearned) on eight hits. Megan Daffern worked for three innings in relief, allowing two runs on eight hits. She recorded four strikeouts.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
