April 24, 2023

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) rallied back from a 5-3 game one deficit Monday afternoon, scoring three runs in the final inning to earn a 6-5 victory over Dakota State (S.D.) at Bravera Field.  The Blue Hawks shut down the Trojans 11-0 in five innings to complete the North Star Athletic Association softball four-game series sweep.

Dakota State fell to 12-27 overall record and 11-10 record in the league.  Dickinson State extended their winning streak to seven games to improve their overall record to 19-23 and 14-9 NSAA conference record.

DSU is slated to close out their regular-season schedule with a five-game home stand at Thue Field, starting Thursday afternoon in a make-up North Star doubleheader with the conference's leader Bellevue (Neb.).  First game is set for 3 p.m. in downtown Madison, S.D.

Game 1 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL

• Dickinson State took the first lead of the game in the bottom second inning, plating three runs with two outs.  Rhea Paiva drilled a 2-RBI double, followed by Kara Conway's RBI single to give the Blue Hawks a 3-0 lead.
• Dakota State answered with three runs in the top third, thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles by Maycee Bricker and Rosie Philop.  Hannah McFarland led off with a walk.  Michelle Evdos followed up with a single to advance McFarland to third base and was tagged out at home (Evdos advanced to second base).
• The Trojans tied the game at 3-3 in the top third as Mackenzie Sims hit an RBI single to score Philop.
• DSU added two runs in the top fourth inning to overtake the lead.  Jacquelyn Folkers led off with a single.  Carrington was hit-by-pitch and advanced Folkers to second base.  McFarland added a single to set up a bases loaded situation.
• Evdos produced an RBI walk to score Folkers to give Dakota State a 4-3 lead in the top fourth.  Philop added an RBI single to score Entringer as the Trojans extended their lead to 5-3.
• Dickinson State snapped their scoring drought in the bottom seventh, mounting a furious comeback.  Paiva and Conway led off with back-to-back singles.  Ari Martinez recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Paiva to third base and Conway to second base.
• Hailey Enriquez smashed a 2-RBI double to score Paiva and Conway as the Blue Hawks tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom seventh.
• DiSU's Kennedy Kuntz, pinch runner for Enriquez, advanced to third base after Trojans' wild pitch.
• Dallis Mitchell hit a walk-off RBI sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Kuntz to secure the victory for Dickinson State with two outs.
• The Trojans outhit the Blue Hawks 10-9 in the game.  DiSU committed three defensive errors compared to DaSU two defensive errors.  Dakota State left nine runners compared to Dickinson State six runners left on base.
• McFarland was 3-of-4 at the plate with three singles for the Trojans.  Philop added a double, single, and drove in two runs.  Evdos added two singles and an RBI.  Bricker had a double and an RBI.  Sims collected a single and an RBI.  Folkers recorded a hit.
• Paiva paced the Blue Hawks with a double, two singles, and two RBIs.  Enriquez added a double and two RBIs.  Conway had two singles and an RBI.  Martinez, Cassidy Venner, and Madeline Peralta each registered a hit.
• Bricker (L, 6-10) took the setback after working for 6 2/3 innings in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She allowed six runs on nine hits. 
• Arjana Eilers started the game for Dickinson State, pitching 2 1/3 innings.  She gave up three runs on five hits.  Mitchell worked for 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits in relief.  Martinez (W, 4-7) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings and yielding the Trojans to one hit.

Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/5 innings

• Dickinson State scored in all four innings in the four-game series finale and shut down Dakota State.
• The Blue Hawks earned a pair of RBI sacrifice flies by Conway and Mitchell in the bottom half of the first innings, earning a 2-0 lead.
• DiSU highlighted the second inning with five runs scored, thanks to a pair of triples from Paiva (2 RBIs) and Martinez (RBI).  Enriquez capped the second inning with an RBI single to balloon their lead to 7-0.
• Martinez produced a 3-RBI double in the bottom third inning to stretch Dickinson State's lead to 10-0.
• The Blue Hawks ballooned their lead to 11-0 in the bottom fourth after an RBI double by Venner.
• Dakota State left a runner on first base after Sims' single and could not extend the game, securing the victory for Dickinson State.
• DiSU outhit DaSU 10-5 in the game. 
• Entringer, Evdos, McFarland, Sims, and Hannah Feser each recorded a single for Dakota State.
• Martinez finished the game by going 3-of-3 at the plate with a triple, double, single, and collected four RBIs for Dickinson State.  Paiva added three hits and two RBIs.  Conway, Enriquez, Mitchell, and Venner each registered a hit and an RBI.
• Mason Usselman (L, 0-6) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for the Trojans.  Philop and Sophia Cordova also pitched in relief.
• Alexa Kappel (W, 6-3) earned a complete game victory for the Blue Hawks.  She gave up five hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director