March 3, 2023

WICHITA, Kan. – MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) of the Heart of America Athletic Conference held off Dakota State's (S.D.) late comeback on the first day of Friends (Kan.) Tournament Friday.  The two-day softball tournament is being held at Two Rivers Youth Complex.

Dakota State fell to 0-9 overall record.  MidAmerica Nazarene is 5-6 overall record.

The Trojans take on Concordia (Neb.) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the second game of the tournament Friday evening at 6 p.m.

MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 8 – FINAL

• Carrington Entringer led off the game with a double for Dakota State.  She swiped to third base.
• Michelle Evdos produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Entringer to give DSU the first lead of the game at 1-0 in the top first inning.
• Kelly Stoakes started the bottom half of the second inning with a single for the Pioneers.  Morgan Fouch recorded a walk to advance Stoakes to second base.
• MNU knotted the game as Stoakes scored home caused by DSU's defensive error, knotting the game at 1-1 in the bottom second.
• The Trojans plated two runs in the top third inning.  Delaney Gregor led off with a single.  Entringer drilled an RBI triple to score Gregor as Dakota State regained their lead to 2-1.
• Dakota State extended their lead to 3-1 after Rosie Philop's RBI single to score Entringer in the top third frame.
• MidAmerica Nazarene answered with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning.  Cordelia Hanger led off with a single and swiped to second base.  Alli Vanlanker added a walk.
• With Hanger on third base and Vanlanker on second base with two outs, Fouchs produced a 2-RBI single to score Hanger and Vanlanker as MNU tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom third.
• Vanlanker smashed a grand slam in the bottom fourth inning to break a 3-3 tie into a 7-3 lead for MidAmerica Nazarene.
• Alexus Foster blasted a solo home run in the top fifth frame as the Trojans trailed 7-4.  It was her first home run this season and her third career home run at DSU.
• The Pioneers scored on a wild pitch in the bottom fifth, followed by an RBI single from Vanlanker as their lead grew to 9-4.
• Dakota State answered with two runs in the top sixth inning.  Grace Ortmeier hit a 2-out RBI double to score Hannah Farland as DSU trailed 9-5.
• The Trojans trimmed the Pioneers' lead to 9-6 as Entringer recorded an RBI walk to score Jacquelyn Folkers in the top sixth inning.
• Josie Day hit an RBI single to stretch MNU's lead to 10-6 in the bottom sixth.
• DSU mounted a comeback in the top seventh inning.  Evdos led off with a walk.  Rebecca Hazlett was hit-by-pitch to advance Evdos to second base.  McFarland hit a ground out to advance Evdos to third base and Hazlett to second base.
• Ortmeier reached safely on base caused by MNU's defensive error, allowing Evdos and Hazlett scored as Dakota State trailed 10-8.
• The Trojans fell short as they left a runner on base when the game ended, securing the victory for the Pioneers.
• MidAmerica Nazarene outhit Dakota State 11-7 in the game.  DSU committed four defensive errors compared to MNU two defensive errors.
• Entringer paced the Trojans' offense attack by going 3-of-3 at the plate.  She had a triple, double, single, two RBIs, a walk, and scored twice.  She swiped one base.  Philop and Ortmeier each added a hit and an RBI.
• Foster had a home run, an RBI, and a walk for Dakota State.  Gregor had a single. 
• Vanlanker sparked the Pioneers with a grand slam, single, and drove in five runs.  Fouch added two singles and two RBIs.  Hanger and Stoakes each had two hits. 
• Maycee Bricker (L, 0-3) took the setback in the pitching circle for DSU.  She tossed 3 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs (one unearned) on six hits.  Mason Usselman pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, giving up three runs on five hits.
• Chloe Smith (W, 3-2) earned the victory after working for 5 2/3 innings for MNU.  She gave up six runs on seven hits and struck out six DSU's batters.  Hannah Etzel (S, 1) pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs.  She registered three strikeouts.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director