March 2, 2024

WICHITA, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to establish the first winning streak of the season Saturday afternoon in the Friends (Kan.) Invitational at Two Rivers Youth Complex.  The host-team Falcons held the Trojans to two hits, earning a 7-0 shutout victory.

Dakota State fell to 2-10 overall record.  Friends, receiving votes recognition in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, lifted their overall record to 10-6.

DSU closes out the tournament against another foe from the KCAC conference, Saint Mary (Kan.).  The game is set for 2:30 p.m.

(RV) Friends (Kan.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

Friends took the first lead of the game in the bottom first inning.  Fallyn Marshall led off with a bunt single and swiped to second base.  Carolyn Dallimore followed up with an RBI single to score Marshall for 1-0 Falcons lead.

Dakota State got their first hit of the game in the top second frame.  Michelle Evdos drilled a double with one out.  The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chance to knot the game.

FU extended their lead to 2-0, thanks to Priscilla Mora's lead-off double in the bottom second.  Vanessa Sigala produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Mora to extend their lead by two runs (Mora advanced to third after Makenna Mitchell's fly out prior to Sigala's at-bat).

The Trojans second hit came in the top third inning with a single from Hannah McFarland.

Mora and Sigala each blasted a 2-run home runs to produce a four-run fourth inning, ballooning Friends' lead to 6-0.

Laila Spracklen hit an RBI double in the bottom sixth inning to make it 7-0 in favor of Friends.

The Falcons registered nine hits in the game.  The Trojans left four runners on base compared to FU two runners left on base.

Evdos paced Dakota Sate with a double and a walk.  McFarland added a single.  Hannah Feser registered a walk.

Mora was 2-of-2 at the plate with a home run, double, and drove in two runs for Friends.  Sigala added a home run and three RBIs.  Dallimore and Spracklen each had a hit and an RBI.  Becca Dunn and Makenna Mitchell each recorded a hit.

Maycee Bricker (L, 0-4) took the defeat in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for four innings and allowed six runs on seven hits.  Analicia Burgos pitched two innings in relief, giving up a run on two hits.

Spracklen (W, 4-3) tossed a complete game victory for Friends.  She limited the Trojans to two hits and registered ten strikeouts.