April 3, 2022

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) won in an 18-17 wild high-scoring affair with Mayville State (N.D.) in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association softball doubleheader Sunday at Thue Field.  The Comets took the four-game series finale by the score of 11-4.

Dakota State, who won the four-game series with a 3-1 record, is 8-15 overall record and 5-3 record in the league.  The Trojans matched its best eight-game NSAA start since 2018 season.  Mayville State is 5-18 overall record and 2-6 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans earned its first series victory over the Comets since March 24-25, 2018.  In addition, Dakota State earned its first home series victory over Mayville State at Thue Field since April 6-7, 2014.

DSU is slated to wrap up their 10-game North Star conference home stand Thursday with a doubleheader with the league leading Bellevue (Neb.).  First game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Thue Field.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 18, Mayville State (N.D.) 17 – FINAL

• A total of 35 runs, 34 hits, and 12 defensive errors combined were recorded in a high-scoring affair between Dakota State and Mayville State in the first game.
• Jocelyn Ontiveros smashed a two-out 2-run home run to give Comets its first lead of the game in the top first inning.
• The Trojans answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning.  Sarah Torres and Mackenzie Sims led off with back-to-back hit-by-pitches.
• Michelle Evdos produced an RBI single to score Torres as DSU trailed 2-1.  Xotchil Lopez added an RBI single to score Sims to tie the game at 2-2.
• Mayville State added two runs in the top fourth to widen their lead to 4-2, capped by an RBI single by Mackenzie Duval.
• DSU exploded for six runs in the bottom third inning to overtake the lead from MSU.  Evdos was hit-by-pitch with one out.  Carrington Entringer reached safely on base by MSU's defensive error and advanced Jacquelyn Folkers (pinch runner for Evdos) to second base.
• Xotchil Lopez hit an RBI single to score Folkers as the Trojans trimmed the Comets' lead to 4-3 in the bottom third.  Angela Slattery followed up by reaching safely on first base after MSU's error to set up a bases loaded situation.
• DSU's next three batters produced three runs to earn a 6-4 lead in the bottom third.  Rosie Philop hit an RBI single, followed by Lia Chan's RBI walk, and Alexus Foster's RBI hit-by-pitch.
• Sims capped the Trojans' third inning offense explosion with a 2-RBI double to balloon DSU's lead to 8-4.
• Mayville State answered with five runs in the top fourth inning for the second lead change in the game.  Bailey Larkin hit an RBI single as MSU trailed 8-5.  The Comets added a run caused by DSU's defensive error (DSU led 8-6).
• Tai Yamamoto recorded an RBI single, while Erika Howell added an RBI walk to register the third tie of the game at 8-8 in the top fourth.  Mackenzie Hughes hit an RBI single as the Comets regained their lead at 9-8.
• DSU plated three runs in the bottom fourth, highlighted by Foster's 2-RBI double for an 11-9 lead.
• Larkin opened the top fifth inning with a single for Mayville State.  Brooke Roeges drilled an RBI triple to score Larkin as MSU reduced their deficit to 11-10.
• MSU tied the game at 11-11 as Duval recorded an RBI fielder's choice to score Roeges in the top fifth frame.
• Nicole Fierro capped the top fifth inning with a 2-RBI double to give Mayville State a 13-11 lead.
• Sims led off the bottom fifth with a single for the Trojans.  She swiped to second base, while on the same play, the Comets committed two defensive errors to allow Sims to score as DSU trailed 13-12.
• After Evdos' walk and Entringer reaching safely on base after MSU's miscue, Lopez drilled an RBI double to score Evdos as the Trojans tied the game at 13-13.
• DSU plated two more runs to make it 15-13 after a pair of defensive errors committed by Mayville State in the bottom fifth.
• Chan capped the fifth inning with an RBI single as DSU held a 16-13 lead.
• Ontiveros and Ashlyn Tingey hit back-to-back RBI doubles as Mayville State cut Dakota State's lead to 16-15 in the top sixth frame.
• Dakota State extended their lead to 18-15 in the bottom half of the sixth inning with two runs, highlighted by Angela Slattery's RBI single.
• With bases loaded and two outs situation in the top seventh inning, Ontiveros produced an RBI hit-by-pitch as the Comets trailed 18-17.
• Dakota State secured the victory as Foster made a diving catch from Tingey's line drive in the center field.
• There was a total of six ties and five lead changes in the game.
• Mayville State outhit Dakota State 20-14 in the game.  The Comets committed nine defensive miscues compared to the Trojans three errors. 
• MSU left 11 runners on base compared to DSU eight runners left on base.
• Lopez was prefect at the plate by going 5-of-5 with a double, four singles and drove in three runs for DSU.  Sims added two doubles, single, scored three runs, and tallied two RBIs. 
• Chan had two hits and two RBIs for DSU.  Foster had a double and collected three RBIs.  Philop and Evdos each had a hit and an RBI. 
• Foster swiped two bases for Dakota State.  Sims, Slattery, Madison Aldendifer, and Chan each had a stolen base.
• Ontiveros was 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, double, single, and totaled four RBIs for Mayville State.  Tingey added two doubles, single, and two RBIs. 
• Roeges recorded a triple, two singles and an RBI for MSU.  Larkin had three hits and an RBI.  Duval tallied two hits, two RBIs, and two walks.  Yamamoto and Hughes each had two hits and an RBI.
• Duval registered three stolen bases for the Comets.  Hughes and Larkin each had two stolen bases.
• Aldendifer (W, 3-4) recorded the victory after starting the game and re-entering later in the game for the Trojans.  She worked for 4 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs (two unearned) on 11 hits.  Slattery tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief.
• Mayville State used four different pitchers in the game, where Sidney Fairbanks started the game.  She worked for 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs (one unearned) on four hits.  Abby Kessel and Annika Seedborg also worked in relief.  Payton Doerksen (L, 0-8) took the setback after working for two innings and allowed three runs on four hits.

Game 2 – Mayville State (N.D.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Mayville State poured in seven runs in the first four-and-half innings and prevailed for the four-game series finale victory.
• With runners on second and third base in the opening inning, Ontiveros produced an RBI ground out to give MSU a 1-0 lead.
• Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring chances in the bottom half of the first frame, despite getting singles from Torres, Lopez, and Entringer.
• Ontiveros smashed a 3-run home run in the top third inning to balloon MSU's lead to 4-0 in the top third.
• Mayville State scored twice in the top fourth inning to extend their lead to 6-0.
• Yamamoto led off with a single in the top fifth and advanced on the same play caused by DSU's defensive error for the Comets.  Fierro followed up with a single to advance Erika Howell, pinch runner for Yamamoto, to third base.
• Sadie Mathews recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Howell as the Comets extended their lead to 7-0 in the top fifth inning.
• DSU snapped its scoring drought in the bottom fifth.  Sims, Lopez, and Entringer recorded three straight singles.  Evdos hit a base-clearing 3-RBI double as the Trojans trailed 7-3.
• Philop followed up with a single to advance Evdos to third base.  On the same play, Evdos scored home caused by Comets' miscue as the Trojans reduced their deficit to 7-4.
• Mayville State scored three runs in the top sixth inning, highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles by Fierro and Sadie Mathews (MSU led 9-4). 
• Hayle Boechler added an RBI walk to extend the Comets' lead to 10-4 in the top sixth.
• MSU made it 11-4 in the top seventh inning, thanks to Duval's 2-RBI double.
• Dakota State left the bases full when the game ended, securing the victory for Mayville State.
• Lopez was 3-of-4 at the plate with three singles for the Trojans.  Philop added three singles.  Evdos tallied a double and three RBIs.  Sims and Entringer each hit two singles. 
• Chan and Torres each registered a hit for DSU.  Sims swiped one base.
• Ontiveros was 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, two singles and collected a game-high five RBIs for the Comets.  Duval added a double, single and RBI.  Yamamoto tallied three singles.  Fierro had two hits and an RBI.
• Mathews recorded a hit and two RBIs for Mayville State.  Larkin had two singles. 
• The Comets registered 14 hits in the game compared to the Trojans 13 hits.  DSU left 13 runners on base while MSU had 11 runners left on base.
• Slattery (L, 3-3) took the loss in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She allowed four runs (one unearned) on four hits.  Philop worked for 2 2/3 innings in relief, while Lopez worked for 1 1/3 innings.
• Courtney Boll (W, 4-4) tossed a complete game victory for Mayville State.  She gave up four runs (one unearned) on 13 hits.  She recorded five strikeouts.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director