March 2, 2024

WICHITA, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off a busy Saturday softball schedule in the Friends (Kan.) Invitational at Two Rivers Youth Complex.  The Trojans erupted for a season-high eight runs in the fourth inning, cruising past Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) in the battle of the Trojans by the score of 9-0 in five innings.

Dakota State snapped their four-game losing streak, improving to 2-9 overall record.  It was the first shutout victory this season for the Trojans.  Hannibal-LaGrange, a member of the American Midwest Conference, fell to 0-5 overall record.

DSU continues their action at 12:20 p.m. as they face the host-team (RV) Friends (Kan.) and closes out the tournament against Saint Mary (Kan.) at 2:30 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 9, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 0 – FINAL/5 innings
The game was scoreless after two-and-half innings before Dakota State scored the first run of the game.

Ally Morrissey led off with hit-by-pitch in the bottom third frame for the Trojans.  She swiped to second base and advanced to third base after a ground out from Hannah McFarland.  Mackenzie Sims produced an RBI ground out to score Morrissey to give DSU a 1-0 lead.

Dakota State erupted for eight runs in the bottom fourth inning to balloon their lead.  Michelle Evdos hit a single with one out.  Hannah Feser followed up with a walk and advanced Olivia Peterson, pinch runner for Evdos, to second base.  Both Peterson and Feser swiped one bae.  Jada Brown was hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation.

Alexus Foster produced an RBI walk to score Peterson to extend DSU's lead to 2-0 in the bottom fourth.  Morrissey followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Heser to extend the Trojans' lead to 3-0.

Dakota State went on to add six more runs with two outs.  McFarland added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation, while Sims recorded an RBI walk to score Brown for 4-0 Trojans lead. 

Rosie Philop hit a 2-RBI single to score Foster and McFarland to extend Dakota State's lead to 6-0.  The Trojans' offense attack continued as Jordyn Jeffries hit an RBI single, followed by Evdos' 2-RBI double to widen their lead to 9-0.

The Trojans shut down Hannibal-LaGrange in the top fifth inning as they left a runner on second base after Emma Angel's double.

Dakota State registered five hits and five walks in the game.  H-L was limited to four hits.

Evdos went 2-of-3 at the plate with a double, single, and drove in two runs for DSU.  Philop added a single and two RBIs.  Jeffries had two hits and an RBI.  Foster recorded a walk and an RBI.  Morrissey recorded a hit.

Angel recorded a double for Hannibal-LaGrange.  Madison Staley, Kara Krieger, and McKenzie Bensinger each added a single.

Jada Brown (W, 1-2) earned the victory after tossing four innings in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  Maycee Bricker pitched a scoreless fifth inning in relief.

Sabrina Morgan (L, 0-1) took the loss after pitching 3 2/3 innings for H-L.  She allowed seven runs on two hits and issued five walks.  Sierra Adkins worked for the final out in the bottom fourth, giving up two runs on three hits.