April 23, 2022

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) opened the North Star Athletic Association softball four-game series with brutal windy conditions, up to 45 miles-per-hour Saturday at Thue Field.  Trailing 3-1 after three innings, the Trojans scored seven straight runs and held off Blue Hawks' late comeback for an 8-6 victory.  DiSU rallied back for a 5-4 victory, thanks to their three-run sixth inning after trailing 4-2.

It was the first time since March 28-29, 2016, that Dickinson State had played at Thue Field.  After the first game victory, it was the first home win since April 9, 2007, that the Trojans defeated the Blue Hawks on Thue Field.

Dakota State is 17-24 overall record and 12-10 record in the league.  Dickinson State is 17-22 overall record and 9-8 NSAA conference record.

Both teams wrap up their NSAA four-game series in another key doubleheader Sunday.  First game of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. in DaSU's home regular-season finale at Thue Field.  The DSU softball team will be honoring their seniors in between games.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 8, Dickinson State (N.D.) 6 – FINAL

• Dickinson State earned its first lead of the game in the top first.  Rhea Paiva led off with a walk and swiped to second base.  Dallis Mitchell was hit-by-pitch. 
• Ari Martinez reached safely on base by a fielder's choice, while Mitchell was out at second base.  Paiva advanced to third base and scored home on the same play caused by DaSU's defensive error for 1-0 DiSU lead.
• Dakota State answered with a run scored in the bottom half of the first inning.  Mackenzie Sims drilled a double with one out.  She advanced to third after DiSU's wild pitch.
• Michelle Evdos produced an RBI ground out to score Sims as the Trojans knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom first.
• The Blue Hawks plated two runs in the top second inning.  Kennedy Kuntz led off with a single.  Kara Conway followed up with a single to advance Kuntz to second.  DaSU committed a defensive error on the same play to allow Kuntz to score for 2-1 DiSU lead.
• With bases loaded situation with one out in the top second, Mitchell recorded an RBI ground out to score Conway as Dickinson State extended their lead to 3-1.
• Sims hit a single with one out in the bottom third and swiped to second base for the Trojans.  Evdos followed up with an RBI single to score Sims as DaSU trailed 3-2.
• Dakota State earned its first lead of the game after scoring two runs in the bottom fourth.  Elizabeth Whitesides reached on base caused by Blue Hawks' defensive miscue and advanced to second base on the same play.  Sarah Torres followed up with an RBI single to score Whitesides as the Trojans tied the game at 3-3.
• After Torres was caught stealing at third base, Sims drilled a double with two outs for DaSU.  Xotchil Lopez drilled an RBI double to score Sims as Dakota State grabbed a 4-3 lead in the bottom fourth.
• Dakota State continued its scoring surge, producing four runs on three straight scoring plays with two outs in the bottom fifth.  With bases loaded situation, Sims recorded an RBI hit-by-pitch to score Olivia Peterson (pinch runner for Madison Aldendifer who recorded a walk with one out) as the Trojans extended their lead to 5-3.
• After a pitching change for the Blue Hawks, Evdos added an RBI walk to score Whitesides (who hit a bunt single) as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 6-3.
• Lopez followed up with a 2-RBI single to score Sims and Torres (recorded a walk) as Dakota State widen their lead to 8-3 in the bottom fifth.
• Dickinson State reduced their deficit to 8-4 as Mitchell hit an RBI single in the top sixth frame.
• The Blue Hawks scored twice in the top seventh inning caused by two DaSU's defensive miscues on the same play, trailing 8-6.
• Dakota State prevented Dickinson State's comeback with bases full when the game ended, securing the NSAA four-game series opener with a victory.
• The Trojans outhit the Blue Hawks 13-7 in the game.  Both teams committed five defensive errors.  DiSU left 12 runners on base compared to DaSU nine runners left on base.
• Lopez was perfect at the plate by going 4-of-4 with a double, three singles, and drove int three runs.  Sims was also perfect at the plate, going 3-of-3 with two doubles, single, an RBI, and scored a game-high four runs.
• Lia Chan added two singles for Dakota State.  Whitesides had a walk, single, and scored two runs.  Evdos had a single and collected three RBIs.  Torres had a hit and an RBI.  Carrington Entringer recorded a hit.  Sims and Whitesides each recorded a stolen base.
• Emilie Sickler had two singles and a walk for Dickinson State.  Mitchell added a hit and tallied two RBIs.  Paiva, Kuntz, Conway, and Madison Stephens each registered a hit.
• Paiva, Mitchell, and Kuntz each swiped on base for the Blue Hawks.
• Angela Slattery (W, 8-7) recorded the victory in the pitching circle for DaSU.  She pitched the first five innings and came back in the top seventh inning to close the game.  She yielded the Blue Hawks to three runs (one unearned) on four hits.  Aldendifer worked 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up one run (two unearned) on three hits.
• Ari Martinez (L, 9-10) recorded the defeat after tossing 3 2/3 innings for DiSU.  She gave up four runs (two unearned) on 10 hits.  Arjana Eilers worked for one inning in relief, allowing four runs on one hit.  Madeline Peralta pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits.

Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Dakota State was unable to hold on to their 4-2 lead in the second game of the doubleheader.  Dickinson State sparked the sixth inning with three-run production and held on to a split on the first day.
• The Trojans earned the first lead of the game in the bottom first.  Torres led off by reaching safely on first base by DiSU's defensive error.  She advanced one base on each ground outs by Sims and Evdos.
• Lopez reached safely on base by another defensive error by the Blue Hawks, allowing Torres to score as DaSU earned a 1-0 lead.
• DiSU answered with a run in the top second.  After Kuntz's fielder choice, she swiped to second base.  Kamryn Kuntz followed up with an RBI single to score Ke. Kuntz as the Blue Hawks knotted the game at 1-1.
• Ka. Kuntz hit a single with one out in the top fourth inning for Dickinson State.  She swiped to second base.  The Blue Hawks regained their lead at 2-1 as Conway hit an RBI single to score Ka. Kuntz.
• With runners on first and second bases in the bottom half of the fourth frame, Evdos blasted a 2-RBI double to score Torres and Sim as the Trojans earned a 3-2 lead. 
• Dakota State made it 4-2 as Lopez followed up with an RBI single to score Evdos in the bottom fourth.
• With a pair of walks by Ka. Kuntz and Sickler in the top sixth inning, the Blue Hawks mounted a comeback.  Paiva hit a 2-RBI double to score Ka. Kuntz and Sickler as DiSU tied the game at 4-4.
• With Paiva to third base after Trojans' wild pitch with one out, Mitchell produced an RBI ground out to score Paiva as the Blue Hawks rebounded with a 5-4 lead.
• Dickinson State shut down Dakota State in the final inning to secure the victory.
• DiSU had eight hits in the game compared to DaSU seven hits.  The Blue Hawks committed three defensive errors, while the Trojans recorded one error.  DiSU left 10 runners on base compared to DaSU eight runners left on base.
• Evdos paced the Trojans' offense attack with a double, single, and earned two RBIs.  Lopez added a single and an RBI.  Torres, Aldendifer, Chan, and Whitesides each had a hit.  Emily McGaugh swiped one base.
• Paiva had a double, single and two RBIs for the Blue Hawks.  Conway added three singles and an RBI.  Ka. Kuntz recorded two singles and an RBI.  Martinez had a hit.
• Ka. Kuntz swiped three bases for DiSU.  Sickler and Ke. Kuntz each added on stolen base.
• Slattery worked for 5 2/3 innings in the game, giving up two runs on seven hits for Dakota State.  Rosie Philop recorded the setback, despite tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief.  She allowed three runs on one hit.
• Mitchell (W, 6-9) pitched a complete game victory for Dickinson State.  She gave up four runs (one unearned) on seven hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director