February 23, 2024

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) met Dordt (Iowa) for the second time in six days at the same site in the American State Bank Sports Complex Classic No. 2 tournament (members of the North Star Athletic Association foes facing members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference) Friday evening.  The Defenders used a fast start and defeated the Trojans by the score of 9-1 in five innings, completing the season series sweep.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 1-5.  Dordt, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference improved to 5-7 overall record.

The Trojans wrap up the dome tournament Saturday with another part of games, facing No. 15 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) at 2 p.m. and College of Saint Mary (Neb.) at 4 p.m.

Dordt (Iowa) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

The Defenders produced four straight runs with two outs in the bottom half of the first inning.  Lauren Steenstra and Emma Groen hit back-to-back RBI singles to give DU a 2-0 early lead. 

Brynn Torrenga followed up with a 2-RBI single to balloon Dordt's lead to 4-0 in the bottom first.

Dakota State was unable to score in the first two innings, despite getting a single from Mackenzie Sims in the first inning and another single from Alexus Foster in the second frame.

The Trojans got on scoreboard in the top third inning.  Olivia Peterson led off with a walk.  Hannah McFarland reached safely on first base after a fielder's choice and advanced Peterson to second base. 

With Peterson on third base and Sims on first base with two outs, both Peterson and Sims recorded a double steal as Peterson scored home (Sims swiped to second base).  DSU trailed 4-1 after two-and-half innings.

The Defenders answered with a run in the bottom third to extend their lead to 5-1.  Peyton Whipple hit an RBI single to score Steenstra who drilled a double with one out. 

Dordt increased their lead to 8-1 after a 3-run home run blast by Steenstra in the bottom fourth frame.

The Defenders had a bases loaded situation with one out in the bottom fifth inning.  Chloe Kreuz closed the game with an RBI single to give DU the victory in five innings.

Dordt outhit Dakota State 10-4 in the game.  Both teams left five runners on base.

McFarland and Jordyn Jeffries each hit a double for the Trojans.  Sims and Foster each added a single.  Peterson recorded a walk and a run scored.  Sims and Peterson each swiped one base.

Steenstra was 3-of-3 at the plate with a home run, double, single, and drove in four runs for the Defenders.  Torrenga had two singles and two RBIs.  Groen and Kruez each added two hits and an RBI.  Whipple collected a single and an RBI.

Maycee Bricker (L, 0-3) took the setback in the pitching circle after tossing 2 2/3 innings for Dakota State.  Mason Usselman also pitched an inning in relief, while Jada Brown worked two outs in relief.

Alexa Kopaska (W, 1-0) earned a complete game victory for Dordt.  She yielded the Trojans to one run on four hits.