March 21, 2024

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) moved their North Star Athletic Association four-game softball series to Nelson Family Bubble on the campus of Jamestown (N.D.).  The Blue Hawks took the first two games of the series Thursday evening, sweeping the Trojans by the scores of 9-1 in five innings and 11-3 in six innings.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 5-14 and 2-4 NSAA conference record.  Dickinson State improved to 10-14 overall record and 5-1 record in the league.

Both teams wrap up their four-game series with another doubleheader Friday, starting at 10 a.m.

Game 1 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

Dakota State was unable to grab the first lead of the game in the bottom first inning, despite a lead-off single by Hannah McFarland followed by a walk from Mackenzie Sims.

Dickinson State plated two runs in the top second frame.  Karissa Comer led off with a walk, while Cassidy Venner added a single with one out.  Bailey Hansen produced a 2-RBI single to score Comer and Venner to give DiSU a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Hawks extended their lead to 3-0 as Kiley Hubby drilled an RBI double to score Dallis Mitchell, who hit a single with one out.  Kara Conway added an RBI single to score Hubby to make it 4-0 in favor of Dickinson State.

DSU snapped their scoring drought in the bottom half of the third inning.  McFarland led off with a single.  She advanced to second base after Sims' sacrifice bunt.  Rosie Philop hit a single to advanced McFarland to third base.  Michelle Evdos produced an RBI single to score McFarland as Dakota State trailed 4-1 after three innings.

Dickinson State ballooned their lead to 7-1 in the top fourth inning, highlighted by Cassy Loa's 2-RBI single and Hubby's RBI sacrifice fly.
Jai Maddox-Hernandez hit a 2-RBI single in the top fifth inning to increase Blue Hawks' lead to 9-1.  Dickinson State's defense ended the game with a double play, securing the victory.

Philop and McFarland each had two hits for Dakota State.  Evdos added a single and an RBI.  McFarland and Sims each registered a walk.  McFarland swiped one base.

Loa and Hansen each tallied two hits and two RBIs for Dickinson State.  Dallis Mitchell and Venner each added two hits.  Hubby and Maddox-Hernandez each recorded a hit and drove in two runs.

Maycee Bricker (L, 0-6) took the defeat in the pitching circle, tossing four-plus innings for the Trojans.  Jada Browns worked the fifth inning in relief.

Mitchell (W, 5-3) earned the complete game victory for the Blue Hawks.  She limited DSU to one run on five hits and recorded five strikeouts.

Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL/6 innings

Dickinson State scored at least a run in the first four innings and never trailed in the second game of the doubleheader.

Hubby produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score HaiLeigh Davis, who led off the game with a single, to give the Blue Hawks a 1-0 lead in the top first.  Loa added a 2-RBI single in the top second to extend their lead to 3-0.

The Trojans left two runners on base in the bottom second, despite a lead-off double by Evdos and a walk from Alexus Foster.

Hansen highlighted the top third inning with an RBI triple with two outs for DiSU 4-0 lead, scoring Conway who recorded a walk.

Dickinson State made it 6-0 in the top fourth with an RBI single from Comer and Conway.  The Blue Hawks poured in five runs in the top sixth frame to ballon their lead to 11-0.

Dakota State scored three runs in the bottom sixth.  With runners on third and first base, Evdos hit an RBI single to score Sims for the Trojans' first run of the game (DSU trailed 11-1).

Mason Usselman added a two-out RBI double to score Jordyn Jeffries and Evdos as the Trojans cut the Blue Hawks' lead to 11-3. 

Dickinson State secured the game by recording the final out of the game in the bottom sixth.

The Blue Hawks outhit the Trojans 13-5 in the game. 

Evdos paced Dakota State's offense attack with a double, single, and an RBI.  Usselman added a double and two RBIs.  McFarland and Sims each registered a hit.  Foster had a walk.  Sims swiped one base.

Hansen was 3-of-3 at the plate with a triple, two singles and an RBI for Dickinson State.  Loa added a double, single, and two RBIs.  Davis and Comer each had two hits and an RBI. 

Delaney Barrett (L, 4-4) took the defeat in the pitching circle for the Trojans.

Hope Fath (W, 2-2) earned a complete game pitching victory for the Blue Hawks.