April 18, 2023

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) played its final non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon, visiting Briar Cliff (Iowa) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference at Bishop Mueller Complex.  The Chargers swept the Trojans by the scores of 6-0 and 4-1.

Dakota State fell to 12-23 overall record.  Briar Cliff lifted their overall record to 26-10.

The Trojans are slated to play their first home contests at Thue Field Thursday afternoon.  DSU resumes their North Star Athletic Association action as they host the league's leader Bellevue (Neb.).  The doubleheader starts at 3 p.m.

Game 1 – Briar Cliff (Iowa) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

• Aubrey Chichurka blasted a solo home run with two outs in the bottom second inning, giving Briar Cliff (Iowa) a 1-0 lead.
• The Chargers extended their lead to 2-0 after a solo home run from Kylee Lukes in the bottom third.
• Dakota State was unable to convert their first scoring opportunity in the top fourth inning as Hannah McFarland led off with a single.  She advanced to second base after a passed ball by BCU.
• Briar Cliff produced three singles in the bottom half of the fourth inning from Kennedy Andersen, Chichurka, and Karis Gifford.
• The Chargers extended their lead to 3-0 as Audrey Evola hit an RBI single.  BCU made it 4-0 as Luke recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Chichurka.
• Briar Cliff made it 6-0 in the bottom sixth as Luke drilled a 2-RBI double.
• Dakota State left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for Briar Cliff.
• The Chargers outhit the Trojans 11-5 in the game.  BCU left seven runners on base compared to the Trojans four runners left on base.
• McFarland and Michelle Evdos each tallied two singles for DSU.  Mason Usselman added a single.  Rebecca Hazlett registered a walk.
• Chichurka led BCU by going 3-of-3 at the plate with a home run, two singles, and an RBI.  Lukes added a home run, double, and drove in a game-high four runs.  Gifford had two singles.  Karina Cupples, Evola, Andersen, and Autumn Soter each added a hit.
• Usselman (L, 0-5) took the loss after pitching three-plus innings for Dakota State.  Rosie Philop tossed three innings in relief.
• Maddi Duncan (W, 15-4) earned the complete game victory for Briar Cliff.  She scattered five hits and registered nine strikeouts.

Game 2 – Briar Cliff (Iowa) 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

• The Chargers opened with an early 2-0 lead in the bottom first inning after Lukes hit a 2-run home run.
• McFarland had a double in the top third inning with two outs but was unable to score for DSU.
• Gifford and Cupples hit back-to-back singles in the bottom third.  After a wild pitch by Dakota State, Lukes produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Gifford for 3-0 BCU lead (Cupples was tagged out at third base on the same play at third base).
• Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with a run in the top fourth inning.  Evdos drilled a lead-off double.  Hannah Feser followed up with a single and advanced Evdos to third base.
• Mackenzie Sims hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Evdos as the Trojans trailed 3-1 in the top fourth.
• The Chargers extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom fifth after Cupples' RBI single.
• DSU was unable to get on base in the final inning as BCU secured a doubleheader sweep.
• Both teams tallied five hits in the game.  The Trojans left four runners on base compared to the Chargers three runners left on base.
• McFarland led Dakota State with a double and single.  Evdos added a double.  Feser and Jacquelyn Folkers each had a single.  Sims collected an RBI.
• Lukes led Briar Cliff with a home run and drove in three runs.  Cupples added two singles and an RBI.  Gifford and Andersen each had a single.
• Sophia Cordova (L, 3-3) pitched a complete game in the circle, despite the defeat for Dakota State.  She allowed four runs (one unearned) on five hits.
• Morgan Jones (W, 2-1) earned a complete game victory for Briar Cliff. She yielded the Trojans to one run on five hits.

Nick Huntimer, Daktoa State University Sports Information Director