March 15, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) split their four-game North Star Athletic Association softball season opening series with another doubleheader split Friday at Thue Complex.  The Comets held on to a 12-6 victory in the first game, while the Trojans stormed back to finish the four-game series with an 11-10 thriller.

Dakota State is 5-12 overall record, while Mayville State is 7-16 overall record.  Both teams opened the league play with a 2-2 record.

The Trojans are slated to host Dickinson State (N.D.) as they continue their North Star conference play next Saturday (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m. and 2 p.m.) at Thue Complex.   The Comets stay on the road as they travel to Viterbo (Wis.) next weekend.

Game 1 – Mayville State (N.D.) 12, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL

With bases loaded situation and two outs in the top first inning, Miquela Pino produced a 2-RBI single to give Mayville State a 2-0 lead.

Dakota State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first frame.  Hannah McFarland drilled a lead-off double and advanced to third base after Mackenzie Sims' ground out.  After Michelle Evdos' walk with two outs, Jordyn Jeffries smashed a 2-RBI double to scored McFarland and Evdos as the Trojans tied the game at 2-2.

MSU regained their lead at 3-2 as Megan Elliott hit an RBI double to score Mackenzie Iverson, who led off with a single in the top third.

McFarland led off with a walk in the bottom third for DSU.  She swiped to second base.  Sims added a walk.  Rosie Philop hit an RBI single to score McFarland (Sims advanced to second base) as the Trojans knotted the game for the second time at 3-3.

Lindsey Tulla blasted a 3-run home run in the top fourth inning as Mayville State grabbed a 7-3 lead.

Mayville State poured in six runs in the top seventh inning to balloon their lead to 12-3, highlighted by an RBI double by Autumn McGough, Pino's RBI single and capped with a 2-RBI double by Tulla.

Dakota State scored three runs in the bottom seventh and could not complete a comeback.  McFarland produced an RBI double and scored home later caused by MSU's defensive error (DSU trailed 12-5).  Jeffries added an RBI single to round the final score.

The Comets outhit the Trojans 15-8 in the game.  Both teams left six runners on base.

McFarland tallied two doubles and an RBI for Dakota State.  She swiped one base.  Jeffries added a double, two singles, and drove in three runs.  Philop had a single and an RBI.  Olivia Peterson and Gabrielle Ortega-Alves each recorded a single.

Tulla paced Mayville State with a home run, double, single, and collected a game-high five RBIs.  Pino added two singles and three RBIs.  Madison Terres had three hits.  Elliott tallied two hits and an RBI.  Alyssa Avila earned two singles.

Maycee Bricker (L, 0-5) took the setback in the pitching circle for DSU.  She worked for four innings and allowed six runs on six hits.  Jada Brown, Mason Usselman, and Analicia Burgos each pitched in relief.

Emily Haines (W, 3-8) pitched a complete game victory for MSU.  She gave up six runs on eight hits.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 11, Mayville State (N.D.) 10 – FINAL/9 innings

A total of 21 runs, 35 hits, and 13 defensive errors combined by both DSU and MSU in the four-game series finale.

The Comets took the first lead of the game in the top first inning with three runs.  Tulla led off with a walk, followed by Iverson's single to advance Tulla to second base.  Elliott hit an RBI single to score Tulla for MSU 1-0 lead.  Avila followed up with an RBI double to score Iverson to extend their lead to 2-0.

Mayville State made it 3-0 in the top third as Terres hit an RBI single to score Avila.

The Trojans answered with a run in the bottom first.  McFarland reached on base after MSU's defensive error.  Philop drilled an RBI double to score McFarland as DSU trailed 3-1.

The Comets extended their lead to 4-1 in the top second after Avila's RBI sacrifice fly.

Dakota State erupted for four runs with two outs in the bottom second half, thanks to two doubles from McFarland and Philop.  After Ally Morrissey's single, McFarland hit an RBI double to score Morrissey as the Trojans trailed 4-2.

Sims recorded a walk in the bottom second for DSU.  Philop hit an RBI double to score McFarland (Sims advanced to third) as the Trojans trimmed MSU's lead to 4-3.  Evdos capped the bottom second with a 2-RBI single to score Sims and Philop, earning the first lead for Dakota State at 5-4.

Mayville State tied the game at 5-5 in the top fourth inning after McGough's RBI single.  Dakota State regained their lead at 6-5 in the bottom fourth as Philop hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score McFarland, who led off with a walk, swiped to second base, and advanced to third after Sims' ground out.

Tulla hit an RBI double in the top fifth to score Kennedy Vettel, who reached on base after DSU's defensive error.  MSU tied the game at 6-6.

Both teams did not score in the sixth and seventh innings, despite leaving bases loaded in the top seventh for the Comets and two runners left on base in the same inning for the Trojans.

Mayville State kicked off the extra inning with a run scored in the top eight after DSU's defensive miscue, earning a 7-6 lead.

Dakota State answered with a run in the bottom eighth, thanks to four consecutive singles from McFarland, Sims, Philop, and Evdos.  Philop produced an RBI single to score McFarland, tying the game at 7-7.

MSU's defense halted the Trojans to score another run, extending the game to go into the ninth inning.

Mayville State regained their lead in the top ninth inning with two outs as Elliott blasted a 3-run home run for a 10-7 lead.

Pinch hitter Mason Usselman led off the bottom ninth with a single for DSU.  Alexus Foster followed up with a walk to advance Usselman to second base.  Ortega-Alves reached safely on base after MSU's defensive miscue, allowing Usselman to score as the Trojans trailed 10-8 (Foster advanced to second base).

Morrissey followed up with an RBI double to score Foster as DSU trimmed MSU's lead to 10-9 in the bottom ninth (Ortega-Alves advanced to third).  McFarland followed up with a walk. 

Dakota State tied the game at 10-10 as Sims produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score McFarland. 

Philop closed the game by hitting a walk-off RBI single to score Morrissey, securing the victory for the Trojans at 11-10 with one out.

Mayville State tallied 18 hits in the game compared to Dakota State 17 hits.

Philop finished the game with two doubles, two singles, and drove in a game-high five RBIs for the Trojans.  Evdos added a double, three singles, and two RBIs.  McFarland tallied three hits, two walks, and an RBI.  She swiped two bases.  Jeffries had two hits and a stolen base.  Morrissey collected two hits and an RBI.  Sims recorded a single, walk, and an RBI.

Elliott led the Comets with a home run, two singles, and earned four RBIs.  Tulla added three hits and an RBI.  Avila had two hits and two RBIs.  Pino and Terres each tallied two hits and an RBI.  Vettel had two hits.

Delaney Barrett (W, 4-3) tossed a complete game victory for Dakota State.

Courtney Boll (L, 2-7) took the defeat in the pitching circle for Mayville State, working for eight innings.  Autumn McGough worked for one out in relief.