April 13, 2024

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their lead in the North Star Athletic Association softball four-game series opener Saturday afternoon, falling short to Viterbo (Wis.) 9-6 after their seven-run explosion in the fifth inning at Viterbo Outdoor Athletics Complex.  The Trojans held on to a 6-5 game two victory over the V-Hawks, snapping their 11-game losing skid.

Dakota State is 6-23 overall record and 3-11 record in North Star contests.  Viterbo is 7-28 overall record and 4-10 NSAA conference record.

Both teams wrap up their four-game series with another doubleheader Sunday at Viterbo OAC.  The first game starts at 12 p.m.

Game 1 – Viterbo (Wis.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL

Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game in the top first inning.  Hannah McFarland led off with a single and swiped to second base.  She advanced to third base after Mackenzie Sims' ground out.  Rosie Philop hit an RBI single with two outs to score McFarland, giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead.

Viterbo answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning.  Makayla Nortman led off with a single and advanced to second base after DSU's defensive error.  Megan Jardine added a single and advanced Nortman to third base.  Marissa Carter-Olson drilled a 2-RBI double to score Nortman and Jardine to give VU a 2-1 lead.

The Trojans responded with a run in the top second inning.  With runners on third and second base, Sims hit an RBI single to score Olivia Peterson (reached on base by a walk and swiped to second base followed by McFarland's fielder's choice as Alex Morrissey – who led off with a walk – was tagged out at home), tying the game at 2-2.

DSU plated three runs in the top fourth inning to regain their lead.  McFarland led off with a walk and advanced to second after Sims' single.  McFarland and Sims each advanced one base after Michelle Evdos' sacrifice.  Philop hit an RBI single to score McFarland to give Dakota State a 3-2 lead.

Kamryn Petersen, pinch runner for Philop, swiped to second bae in the top fourth.  Sims also stole for home on the same play to balloon Dakota State's lead to 4-2.  The Trojans extended their lead to 5-2 on their next at-bat as Alexus Foster drilled an RBI double to score Petersen.

DSU added a run in the top fifth inning to make it 6-2.  Pinch hitter Mason Usselman reached first base with a walk with one out.  Peterson, running for Usselman, swiped to second base.  McFarland hit a single to advance Peterson to third base.  Sims collected an RBI ground out to score Peterson.

Viterbo poured in seven runs in the bottom fifth inning to overtake the lead.  Grace Elton, Amanda Bogdonovich, Katie Olsen Courtney Denton, Alina Garstka and Nortman recorded consecutive RBI as the V-Hawks earned a 9-6 lead.

Dakota State left two runners on base when the game ended in the top seventh, securing the victory for VU.

The Trojans outhit the V-Hawks 10-9 in the game.  DSU left 11 runners on base compared to VU five runners left on base.

Sims and Philop each collected two singles and two RBIs for Dakota State.  McFarland hit three singles and scored twice.  Foster had a double, single, and an RBI.  Evdos tallied a single and a walk.  Gabriella Ortega-Alves, Foster, Morrissey, Peterson, and Usselman each registered a walk.

The Trojans tallied eight stolen bases in the game.  McFarland, Sims and Peterson each swiped two bases.  Petersen and Morrissey each recorded a stolen base.

Carter-Olson led the V-Hawks with a double and drove in two runs.  Nortman added two singles and an RBI.  Jadine had two singles.  Bogdonovich, Olsen, and Garstka each had a single and an RBI.

Maycee Bricker (L, 0-10) took the setback after pitching 4 2/3 innings for DSU.  She allowed nine runs (two unearned) on eight hits.  She recorded five strikeouts.  Analicia Burgos tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, limiting the V-Hawks to one hit.

Alexis Watson started the game for VU, pitching four innings.  She allowed five runs on six hits and recorded six strikeouts.  Bogdonovich (W, 2-2) notched the victory after tossing three innings in relief.  She gave up one run on four hits.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Viterbo (Wis.) 5 – FINAL

Viterbo took the first lead in the bottom first in the second game of the doubleheader.  Nortman, Jardine, and Sydney Haakenson produced three straight singles to start off the bottom first.  Carter-Olson hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Nortman to give VU a 1-0 lead.

Dakota State scored twice in the top second inning.  Usselman led off with a walk.  Peterson, pinch runner for Usselman, swiped to second base.  Delaney Barrett hit a single to advance Peterson to third base.  Barrett swiped to second base.

Jordyn Jeffries hit an RBI ground out to score Peterson as the Trojans knotted the game at 1-1 in the top second.  McFarland reached safely on base caused by VU's defensive error with two outs, allowing Barrett to score as DSU grabbed a 2-1 lead.

Bogdonovich hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom third frame as Viterbo tied the game at 2-2.

McFarland led off the top fifth inning with a walk and swiped to second base.  Sims recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance McFarland to third base.  Philop hit an RBI single to score McFarland as Dakota State led 3-2.

The Trojans scored three runs in the top sixth inning to balloon their lead.  Quincy Hartley hit an RBI single to score Petersen, who pinch ran for Barrett after her lead-off single for 4-2 DSU lead.

Sims added a 2-RBI single to score Morrissey (pinch runner for Hartley) and McFarland as Dakota State's lead grew to 6-2 in the top sixth inning.

Viterbo produced three doubles with two outs in the bottom sixth inning, scoring three runs.  Nortman and Jardine hit back-to-back RBIs doubles, while Sydney Haakenson drilled 2-RBI double as the V-Hawks trailed 6-5.

VU left two runners on third and second base when the game ended in the bottom seventh frame, securing the victory for DSU.
The V-Hawks tallied 12 hits in the game compared to the Trojans eight hits.  VU left 11 runners on base compared to DSU nine runners left on base.

Barrett collected three singles and scored a run in the game for Dakota State.  Philop had two singles and an RBI.  Hartley and Jeffries each had a single and an RBI.  Evdos registered two walks.

The Trojans recorded six stolen bases in the game, led by McFarland with two stolen bases.  Sims, Barrett, Morrissey, and Peterson each added a stolen base. 

Nortman was 3-of-4 at the plate with a double, two singles, RBI, and a walk for Viterbo.  Jardine added a double, single and an RBI.  Haakenson had a double, single, and drove in two runs.  Carter-Olson collected two hits and an RBI.

Barrett (W, 5-8) recorded the victory in the pitching circle for DSU.  She pitched 5 2/3 innigs and gave up five runs on 11 hits.  Jada Brown (S, 1) earned the save after tossing 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief.  She limited the V-Hawks to one hit and registered three strikeouts.

Emily Roberts started the game for VU, working for four innings.  She allowed two runs (one unearned) on three hits and recorded four strikeouts.  Nortman (L, 0-5) took the defeat after giving up a run in one out.  Bogdonovich worked for 2 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three runs on five hits.