February 23, 2024

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) erupted for five runs in the bottom first inning on the first day of the American State Bank Sports Complex Classic No. 2 Friday afternoon, earning their first victory of the season with a 6-1 victory over Morningside (Iowa).  The Trojans also snapped their long losing skid in the series meeting with the Mustangs of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Dakota State halted their four-game losing skid, giving head coach Erin Skinner her first victory as DSU head coach (1-4 overall record).  Morningside is 3-3 overall record, who opened their season with an 8-6 victory over North Star's foe Waldorf (Iowa) earlier Friday.

The Trojans take on the host-team Dordt (Iowa) at 6 p.m. in the second game of the tournament.

Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Morningside (Iowa) 1 – FINAL

Dakota State prevented Morningside to score the game's first run of the game.  Mackenna Sidzyik led off by reaching safely on first base after DSU's defensive error.  She advanced to second base with a wild pitch by the Trojans and went to third base after Lainie Keller's ground out.

DSU's defense made a stop in the top first frame as MU's Kennedee Jones hit a ground out.

The Trojans' offense poured in five runs in the bottom first frame to earn the first lead of the game.  Hannah McFarland led off with a walk and swiped to second base with one out.  Mackenzie Sims added a walk.  Rosie Philop followed up with a single to set up a bases loaded situation for Dakota State.

Dakota State scored five straight runs on their next three batters, earning a 1-0 lead after Jordyn Jeffries' RBI walk to score McFarland.

The Trojans extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom first, thanks to back-to-back 2-RBI doubles by Delaney Barrett and Gabrielle Ortega-Alves (Sims, Philop, Jeffries, and Barrett scored during those two plays).

Alexus Foster drilled a lead-off double in the bottom fourth for Dakota State.  McFarland followed up with a single to advance Foster to third base.  McFarland swiped to second base.

Sims produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Foster to extend the Trojans' lead to 6-1 in the bottom fourth.

DSU tagged out Morningside's Emme Dietrich at home plate in the top fifth inning, keeping the Mustangs scoreless after five innings (Trojans led 6-0).

Morningside left the bases full in the top sixth frame as Dakota State's defense halted the Mustangs to score, holding a 6-0 lead.

Jalyn Noelle, pinch hitter for Dietrich, kicked off the top seventh inning with a double.  She advanced to third base after Sidzyik's fly out to right field.  Noelle was tagged out at home after Emma Barwick fielder's choice.

Lainie Keller added an RBI double in the top seventh to score Barwick as the Mustangs trimmed the Trojans' lead to 6-1.

Dakota State secured the victory as Hannah Feser caught a pop out for the final out of the game. 

DSU outhit MU 6-5 in the game.  The Trojans committed three defensive errors compared to the Mustangs zero errors.

Barrett, Ortega-Alves, and Foster each recorded a double for Dakota State.  Barrett and Ortega-Alves each collected two RBIs.  Foster had a walk.  Jeffries tallied a single, RBI, and a walk.  McFarland and Philop each recorded a hit.  McFarland had a walk and swiped two bases.  Sims earned an RBI and recorded a walk. 

Keller led the Mustangs with a double and an RBI.  Jones, Barwick, Paige Schuster, and Noelle each added a hit.  Mackenzi Harrel, Kennedy Wineland, and Dietrich each had a walk.

Barrett (W, 1-1) tossed a complete game victory in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She yielded the Mustangs to one run on five hits and recorded two strikeouts.

Maggie Fisher (L, 0-1) recorded the loss after working four innings.  She gave up six runs on five hits and issued four walks.  She registered four strikeouts.  Bralen Biddlecome pitched two shutout innings in relief, limiting the Trojans to one hit.