February 24, 2023

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) and Northwestern (Iowa) met for the second time in a week Friday afternoon in the second Dordt (Iowa) Dome Tournament at American State Bank Sports Complex.  The Red Raiders scored at least a run in each inning and held off the Trojans' rally for a 10-5 victory.

Dakota State fell to 0-5 overall record.  Northwestern of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) remained undefeated this season, winning 13 straight games to raise their overall record to 13-0.

The Trojans play another GPAC foe in the second game on Friday evening, taking on the College of Saint Mary (Neb.) at 6 p.m.

Northwestern (Iowa) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL

• Northwestern grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom first frame, thanks to Ashtyn Billings' lead-off single and advanced to second base after Jennifer Boeve's sacrifice bunt.
• Gwen Mikkelsen produced an RBI single to score Billings to give NWIA a 1-0 lead with two outs in the bottom first inning.
• The Red Raiders poured in four runs in the bottom second inning, highlighted by Boeve's 3-RBI bases clearing double followed by an RBI single from Emily Strasser for a 5-0 lead.
• Dakota State answered with three runs scored in the top third inning.  Jacquelyn Folkers recorded a walk with one out.  Hannah McFarland followed up with a double to advance Folkers to third base.
• Mackenzie Sims hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Folkers as the Trojans trailed 5-1 in the top third (McFarland advanced to third base).
• Michelle Evdos blasted a 2-run home run to left field, scoring McFarland as DSU trimmed NWIA's lead to 5-3 in the top third frame with two outs.
• It was Evdos' first home run this season and her sixth career home run at Dakota State.
• Northwestern scored twice in the bottom third to extend their lead to 7-3.
• Mikkelsen hit a solo home run in the bottom fourth to balloon the Red Raiders' lead to 8-3.
• McFarland ignited the top fifth frame with a lead-off double.  Sims followed up with an RBI single to score McFarland as the Trojans trailed 8-4.
• Evdos and Grace Ortmeier registered back-to-back walks to set up a bases loaded situation for Dakota State.  Carrington Entringer produced an RBI fielder's choice to score Olivia Peterson, pinch runner for Sims, as Dakota State cut NWIA's lead to 8-5.
• NWIA added a run in the bottom fifth inning to extend their lead to 9-5.
• Mikkelsen hit her second solo home run of the game in the bottom sixth, widening the Red Raiders' lead to 10-5.
• Dakota State left a runner on base in the final inning after Evdos' single as NWIA secured the victory.
• The Red Raiders collected nine hits in the game compared to the Trojans seven hits.  Both teams left six runners on base.
• Evdos paced DSU's offense attack with a home run, single, walk, and drove in two runs.  McFarland added two doubles and scored twice.  Sims had a single and collected two RBIs.
• Rosie Philop and Alexus Foster each tallied a hit for Dakota State.  Entringer had an RBI.  Ortmeier and Folkers each added a walk.
• Mikklesen was 4-of-4 at the plate with two home runs, two singles, and collected three RBIs for Northwestern.  Boeve added a double and drove in three runs.
• Madysn Grotewold had two hits and scored twice for NWIA.  Billings and Strasser each added a single.
• Maycee Bricker (L, 0-1) took the setback in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for three innings.  Philop tossed two innings in relief, while Mason Usselman worked the sixth inning.
• Ellie Jacobson (W, 2-0) earned the win after pitching four innings for the Red Raiders.  She allowed three runs on four hits.  Kate Kralik worked for three innings in refiled and gave up two runs on three hits.  She recorded five strikeouts.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director