April 12, 2023

OMAHA, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) could not take the advantage of taking the first leads of the game in both games Wednesday afternoon, as the North Star Athletic Association's leader Bellevue (Neb.) earned a mid-week conference doubleheader sweep by the scores of 5-3 and 8-1 at Roy Smith Field.

The Trojans fell to 10-20 overall record and 9-5 record in the North Star contests.  The Bruins raised their overall record to 23-9 and stretched their conference lead to three games after lifting their record to 12-2. 

Both teams will play another mid-week NSAA doubleheader at Dakota State, slated for Thursday, April 20 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Dakota State returns to the neutral site for the North Star four-game series with Viterbo (Wis.) this weekend.  The series will be held at Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D., with the doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. Sunday.

Game 1 – Bellevue (Neb.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

• Dakota State took a 3-0 lead after one-and-half innings in the first game of the doubleheader.  Bellevue rallied back by scoring the next five runs, sparking a 3-run fourth inning, to hold off the Trojans.
• Carrington Entringer kicked off the game with a single and swiped to second base for DSU. After two straight outs recorded, Rebecca Hazlett hit an RBI single to score Entringer for a 1-0 Dakota State lead.
• The Trojans plated two more runs in the top second frame to extend their lead.  Maycee Bricker led off with a single and advanced to second base after Mackenzie Sims' sacrifice bunt.
• Sophia Cordova drilled an RBI double to score Bricker to balloon DSU's lead to 2-0 in the top third inning. 
• Dakota State made it 3-0 with two outs when Entringer hit an RBI single to score Cordova in the top third.
• Bellevue scored their first run of the game in the bottom second inning, fueled by Liana McMurtry's lead-off double.  Lauren Jurek hit an RBI single to score McMurtry as the Bruins trailed 3-1.
• McMurtry hit another lead-off double in the bottom fourth frame for the Bruins.  Myla Beckstrom followed up with a walk and advanced McMurtry to second base.
• Jurek smashed a 3-run home run as Bellevue earned a 4-3 lead in the bottom fourth.
• With runners on third and second bases in the bottom fifth, Savannah Gunn hit an RBI sacrifice fly as the Bruins' lead grew to 5-3.
• DSU was unable to score in the final two innings as BU secured the win.
• The Trojans outhit the Bruins 6-5 in the game.  Dakota State committed two defensive errors compared to Bellevue with no defensive miscues.
• Entringer went 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles, RBI, stolen base, and scored a run for Dakota State.  Cordova had a double and an RBI.  Hazlett added a single, walk, and an RBI.  Rosie Philop and Bricker each registered a hit.
• Jurek led Bellevue with a home run, single, and drove in four runs.  McMurtry added two doubles and scored twice.  Gunn had a hit and an RBI.  Alyssa Morbach and Mya Montero each swiped one base.
• Bricker (L, 5-7) took the setback in the pitching circle for DSU.  She tossed a complete game and allowed five runs on five hits.
• Katie Cunningham started the game in the pitching circle for BU, working for 1 2/3 innings.  She gave three runs on five hits.  Gunn (W, 6-2) recorded the victory in relief, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings.  She yielded the Trojans to one hit and registered six strikeouts.

Game 2 – Bellevue (Neb.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

• After a scoreless first inning in the second game of the doubleheader, Dakota State took the first lead of the game in the top second.  Philop drilled a lead-off double to left field, followed by Jacquelyn Folkers' walk.  Cordova hit a single to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.
• Grace Ortmeier produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Philop to give DSU a 1-0 lead in the top second.
• Bellevue answered by pouring six runs in the bottom half of the second inning, capped by a 3-run home run from Sami Reding for a 6-1 lead.
• The Bruins extended their lead to 7-1 in the bottom third as McMurtry recorded an RBI walk with bases loaded and two outs situation.
• After a bases loaded situation in the bottom sixth, Mya Montero produced an RBI ground out as Bellevue's lead grew to 8-1.
• Dakota State could not score in the final inning as the Bruins secured the doubleheader sweep.
• BU outhit DSU 10-6 in the game.  The Bruins left 11 runners on base compared to the Trojans five runners left on base.
• Entringer and Philop each hit a double for Dakota State.  Cordova tallied two singles.  Sims and Hazlett each recorded a single.  Ortmeier earned an RBI.  Folkers had a walk.
• Reese Floro led Bellevue with two singles, two RBIs, and two runs scored.  Reding added a home run, single, and three RBIs. Jurek had a double and a single.  Beckstrom recorded a double and an RBI.  Montero had a single and an RBI.
• Ortmeier (L, 3-7) recorded the defeat after working for 1 2/3 innings for DSU.  Cordova tossed 4 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits.
• Jurek (W, 6-2) earned a complete game victory for BU. She limited the Trojans to one run on six hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director