February 21, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024)—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan softball team (0-4 overall record) returns to Sioux Center, Iowa, at the American State Bank Sports Complex as they seek for their first wins of the season.  The Trojans compete in the second American State Bank Sports Complex dome tournament, hosted by Dordt (Iowa).  This weekend will feature four different teams from the North Star Athletic Association taking on four different teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference. 

Dakota State kicks off the tournament on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. versus Morningside (Iowa) (2-2 overall record), followed by a contest with the host-team Dordt (4-7 overall record) at 6 p.m.  Both games will be held on the east field in the dome.

The Trojans face two more teams from the GPAC on Saturday, facing nationally-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) (11-0 overall record, No. 15 in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll) for the second time this season.  The game is set for 2 p.m.  DSU closes the tournament play at 4 p.m. versus College of Saint Mary (Neb.) (2-2 overall record) at 4 p.m.

Dakota State opened their 2024 season last weekend on Feb. 16-17 in the Dordt dome tournament.  The Trojans lost to Northwestern, followed by a pair of extra inning setbacks to Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Dordt (Iowa) before wrapping up with a 5-0 defeat to Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.0. 

Next Up:  Dakota State concludes their preseason tournament play next weekend in the Friends (Kan.) Tournament.  The Trojans play a five-game schedule on March 1-2 in Wichita, Kan. 

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first wins over members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, despite going 0-4 record in their season opener last weekend in Sioux Center, Iowa.
+ The last time DSU and Morningside (Iowa) played on a neutral site was on Feb. 19, 2022, in the Presentation (S.D.) Dome Tournament.  Both teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Thue Field on March 30.
+ Dordt (Iowa) won the first meeting with Dakota State last week.  The Trojans rallied back to knot the game in the top seventh and forced the game into extra innings, falling short by the score of 8-7.
+ DSU is seeking for their first wins over Dordt since April 25, 2013, where the Trojans completed a doubleheader sweep.
+ Northwestern (Iowa) defeated the Trojans in the first meeting on Feb. 16.  The last time DSU defeated the Red Raiders was on April 29, 2021, in Orange City, Iowa.
+ Dakota State and College of Saint Mary (Neb.) will be meeting in the American State Bank Sports Complex for the second straight year.  The Flames defeated the Trojans 15-13 in a high scoring affair.
+ The last time DSU defeated College of Saint Mary was on Feb. 19, 2021, with the Trojans winning by the score of 2-1 in the Presentation Dome Tournament in Aberdeen, S.D.
+ Dakota State is seeking for their first neutral site victory since May 6, 2023 (Trojans defeated Mayville State, N.D., 10-6 in eight innings in the second North Star Athletic Association softball tournament's loser's out game in Dickinson, N.D.).

Noteworthy...
LOOKING AHEAD TO DSU'S NEXT PRESEASON TOURNAMENT:   Dakota State (S.D.) wraps up their preseason tournament schedule next weekend as they prepare for a busy five-game schedule.  The Trojans head to Wichita, Kan., for the two-day Friends (Kan.) tournament.  DSU faces No. 10 ranked Midland (Neb.) on March 1, followed by a contest with York (Neb.).  The Trojans play three games on the second day of the tournament on March 2, taking on Hannibal-Grange (Mo.), (RV) Friends, and Saint Mary (Kan.).

TROJANS IN THE NSAA RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State ranks third in the North Star Athletic Association in batting average of .252.  Jordyn Jeffries ranks second in the league in batting average of .500 (4-of-8 at the plate).  Alexus Foster also ranks tied for ninth in the conference with .364 batting average.   Jeffries, Foster, and Rosie Philop are tied for eighth with a double each.

DSU VERSUS GPAC CONFERENCE:  Dakota State's first nine games on their 2024 schedule are against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  The Trojans face six different opponents from the GPAC in the first two Dordt (Iowa) tournament—Northwestern (Iowa) twice, Dordt twice, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Briar Cliff (Iowa), Morningside (Iowa), and College of Saint Mary (Neb.).  After the tournament DSU will play Midland (Neb.) in the Friends (Kan.) tournament, Mount Marty (S.D.) twice, DWU, and Morningside.
 
DSU SOFTBALL RECORDS:  Prior to this season, Michelle Evdos leads the all-time batting average at Dakota State with .460 batting average since 2022.  She is also 10th all-time in total hits with 132 after last weekend games in Sioux Center, Iowa.  She tied for eighth most total bases with 220 total bases with Jessie Klingenberg from 2004-07.

DSU falls short on first day of Dordt Dome Classic
Sioux Center, Iowa (Feb. 16, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) dropped the first two games of the Dordt (Iowa) Dome Tournament at America State Bank Sports Complex in their 2024 season opener.

The Trojans could not overcome No. 15 ranked Northwestern's (Iowa) fast start in the first game, where the Red Raiders exploded for six runs in the first inning.  NWIA went on to defeat DSU 12-0 in five innings.

Mackenzie Sims, Olivia Peterson, and Ally Morrissey each tallied a single for DSU.  Maycee Bricker and Analicia Burgos each pitched in the pitching circle.

Dakota State was unable to hold on to their 3-1 lead after six innings in the second game of the day, falling to Briar Cliff (Iowa) 5-4 in eight innings.  The Chargers scored twice in the top seventh to force the extra inning, where they scored two more runs.  The Trojans' rally fell short with a run scored in the bottom half of the inning.

Morrissey paced the Trojans' offense attack with two hits and two RBIs.  Alexus Foster added a double and single.  Hannah Feser, Rosie Philop, and Sims each added a hit.  Delaney Barrett tossed a complete game in the pitching circle, despite giving up five unearned runs on eight hits.

Trojans drop two games on second day at Dordt
Sioux Center, Iowa (Feb. 17, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) fell short in another extra-inning affair for the second straight game, falling to host-team Dordt (Iowa) 8-7 on the second day of the dome tournament at American State Bank Sports Complex.

DSU poured in four runs in the top fourth inning to grab a 5-1 lead.  The Defenders regained their lead after their four-run explosion in the bottom fifth.  Dakota State rallied back to tie the game in the top seventh and forced the game into extra innings.  DSU scored once in the top eighth, while DU secured the victory after scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning for an 8-7 victory.

Jordyn Jeffries and Rosie Philop each tallied three hits in the game for Dakota State.  Hannah McFarland added a hit and two RBIs.  Delaney Barrett had a hit and an RBI.  Alexus Foster, Mackenzie Sims, and Jada Brown each had a hit.  Brown, Barrett, Mason Usselman, and Analicia Burgos pitched in the circle.

DSU was shut out by rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 5-0 to close the tournament.  McFarland, Alex Morrissey, Sims, Jeffries, Michele Evdos, and Foster each registered a single.  Maycee Bricker started the game in the pitching circle, while Burgos worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

A look ahead to Dakota State home schedule
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024)—Dakota State's (S.D.) season home opener is just few weeks away.  The Trojans are tentatively scheduled to play their first home games versus in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) on March 10 at Thue Field.

After their non-conference games at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on March 12, Dakota State begins their 10-game home stand at Thue Field.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association four-game series opener on March 16-17, followed by another NSAA four-game series versus Dickinson State (N.D.) on March 23-24.  DSU hosts Morningside (Iowa) in a non-conference doubleheader on March 30 and won't return home until April 20-21 in the North Star Athletic Association action versus Waldorf (Iowa).

Dakota State scheduled a total of 14 home contests this spring.  The Trojans play 13 games away from the Thue Field before their season home opener.

2024 Dakota State Softball Team Leaders

· Hits:  Rosie Philop, Jordyn Jeffries, Alexus Foster, Ally Morrissey, Mackenzie Sims—4 hits

· Batting Average:  Jordyn Jeffries—.500 batting average (4-of-8 at-bats)

· Slugging Percentage:  Jordyn Jeffries—.625 slugging percentage (3 singles, 1 double)

· Runs Batted In (RBIs):  Ally Morrissey, Hannah McFarland—2 runs batted in (RBIs)

· Doubles:  Alexus Foster, Rosie Philop, Jordyn Jeffries—1 double

· Triples:  N/A—0 triples

· Home Runs:  N/A—0 home runs

· Total Bases:  Jordyn Jeffries, Alexus Foster, Rosie Philop—5 total bases

· Runs Scored:  Alexus Foster—3 runs

· Walks:  Hannah McFarland—3 walks

· Hit-by-Pitch:  Michelle Evdos—1 hit-by-pitch

· Stolen Bases: Hannah McFarland—2 stolen bases

· On-base percentage:  Jordyn Jeffries—.500 on-base percentage

· Innings Pitched:  Delaney Barrett—9 2/3 innings

· Earned Runs Average (ERA):  Delaney Barrett—3.62 ERA (5 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings)

· Strikeouts (Pitching):  Jada Brown—3 strikeouts

· Complete Games (Pitching):  Delaney Barrett—1 complete game1

· Wins:  N/A—0 wins

· Saves:  N/A—0 saves

Follow Trojan Softball

· Twitter:  @DSU_Trojans

· Facebook:  DSUTrojans

· Instagram:  trojans.athletics

· Dakota State Softball Twitter:  @DSUSoftball

· Dakota State Softball Facebook:  @Dakota-State-University-Softball

· Dakota State Softball Instagram:  dsu_softball