April 2, 2023

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Despite the damages to the PC Dome after the recent snowstorm, the North Star Athletic Association softball's four-game series between Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) was forced to relocate to American State Bank Sports Complex (dome) at Dordt (Iowa) campus.  The Trojans extended their winning streak to three games, earning their first doubleheader sweep of the season by posting 8-4 and 7-4 victories over the Comets.

Dakota State had won six times in the last seven meetings with Mayville State.  The Trojans improved their overall record to 5-15 and 4-2 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State fell to 1-13 overall record and remained winless in six league contests (0-6 NSAA record).

Both teams wrap up their four-game series with another doubleheader Monday, with the first game starting at 11 a.m.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 8, Mayville State (N.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Dakota State used a late surge to rally back from a 3-1 deficit after three innings, outscoring Mayville State 7-1 for the rest of the game to secure the victory.
• Carrington Entringer kicked off the game by drilling a triple.  Alexus Foster produced an RBI sacrifice to score Entringer to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
• Mayville State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning to take over the lead, despite recording the first two outs of the bottom first inning.
• Erika Howell reached on base by DSU's defensive error, followed by Mackenzie Hughes' single for MSU in the bottom first.  With Howell on third and Hughes on second, Miquela Pino hit a 2-RBI single to score Howell and Hughes to give Comets a 2-1 lead.
• Hughes blasted a solo home run with two outs in the bottom third frame to extend MSU's lead to 3-1.
• Dakota State ended their scoring drought after scoring three runs in the top fourth to regain their lead.  Rosie Philop and Maycee Bricker led off with back-to-back singles.  A defensive error by the Comets allowed Philop to advance to third and Bricker to second base.
• Hannah McFarland hit an RBI single to score Philop (Bricker advanced to third) as the Trojans trailed 3-2.  Mackenzie Sims hit a 2-RBI double to score Bricker and McFarland as DSU grabbed a 4-3 lead.
• Michelle Evdos fueled another two-run production for the Trojans in the top fifth, leading off with a double.  Rebecca Hazlett reached safely on base after MSU's error, allowing Evdos to score home as DSU's lead great to 5-3.
• With Hazlett to third base after a passed ball and a ground out from Philop, Bricker hit an RBI single to score Hazlett as Dakota State increased their lead to 6-3.
• McFarland and Sims hit back-to-back singles with one out in the top seventh for the Trojans.  With McFarland on third base and Sims on second base after a stolen base, Olivia Peterson reached safely on base after the Comets committed a defensive error, allowing McFarland and Sims to score for an 8-3 lead in favor of DSU.
• Howell hit an RBI triple in the bottom seventh for the Comets, cutting the Trojans' lead to 8-4.  Mayville State left one runner on base when the game ended, giving the victory for Dakota State.
• The Trojans tallied 14 hits in the game and held the Comets to five hits.  DSU had nine runners left on base compared to MSU six runners left on base.
• Sims sparked DSU's offense attack by going 4-of-4 at the plate with two doubles, two singles and drove in two runs.  Evdos also went perfect at the plate after going 3-of-3 with a double and two singles.  Entringer had a triple. 
• Bricker and McFarland each added two hits and an RBI for Dakota State.  Hazlett had a double and an RBI.  Foster, Evdos, and Sims each swiped one base.
• Hughes had a home run, single and collected an RBI for the Comets.  Howell added a triple and an RBI.  Pino had a single and two RBIs.  Courtney Boll recorded a single.
• Bricker (W, 2-6) tossed a complete game in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She allowed four runs on five hits.
• Sdiney Fairbanks (L, 0-8) recorded the setback after working for 4 2/3 innings.  She gave up six runs (one unearned) on 11 hits.  Boll pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs on three hits.

Game 2:  Dakota State (S.D.) 7, Mayville State (N.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Dakota State used a fast start in the second game of the doubleheader, plating three runs after Entringer led off with a double.  She swiped to third base.  McFarland followed up with a walk and swiped to second base.
• Evdos reached safely on base after Comets' defensive miscue, allowing Entringer to score (McFarland advanced to third base) as the Trojans earned a 1-0 lead.
• Hazlett produced an RBI ground out to score McFarland to extend the Trojans' lead to 2-0 (Evdos advanced to second base).
• Philop added a single to set up a bases loaded situation for DSU in the top first inning with one out.  Grace Ortmeier recorded an RBI sacrifice ground out to score Evdos for 3-0 Trojans lead.
• Evdos kicked off the top third inning to third base after MSU's defensive error.  The Trojans made it 4-0 after Hazlett hit an RBI ground out to score Evdos.
• Brooke Roeges smashed a lead-off home run in the bottom fourth inning as MSU snapped their scoring drought, trailing 4-1.
• Jacquelyn Folkers started the top seventh with a single.  She swiped to second base with one out for DSU.  McFarland followed up with a single to advance Folkers to third base (McFarland then swiped to second base).
• Evdos produced an RBI single to score Folkers as Dakota State ballooned their lead to 5-1 in the top fifth (McFarland advanced to third base, while Evdos advanced to second base on throw). 
• The Trojans made it 7-1 after Philop hit a 2-RBI single to score McFarland and Delany Gregor, pinch runner for Evdos, in the top seventh inning.
• Mayville State answered with three runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning, highlighted by Roeges' RBI single, Alyssa Avila's RBI walk, and Kennedy Vettel's RBI fielder's choice (DSU led 7-4).
• The Comets left the bases full when the game ended, securing the victory for the Trojans.
• Dakota State outhit Mayville State 10-8 in the game.  The Comets left 12 runners on bae compared to the Trojans six runners left on base.
• Entringer had a double, single, and stole the bases twice for Dakota State.  Philop added two singles and two RBIs.  Folkers had two singles and a stolen base.  Evdos produced a single and two RBIs.  Hazlett tallied two RBIs.  Ortmeier had a single and an RBI.  Sims and McFarland each had a hit.
• Roeges led the Comets with a home run, two singles, a stolen base, and two RBIs.  Avila and Vettel each had a single and an RBI.  Howell and Sam Shumway each recorded a single.
• Ortmeier (W, 2-5) earned the victory in the pitching circle, working for six innings for Dakota State.  She allowed one run on seven hits.  Philop tossed in the seventh inning in relief.
• Boll (L, 1-5) took the loss after pitching a complete game for Mayville State.  She gave up seven runs (two unearned) on 10 hits. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director