April 14, 2024

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Viterbo (Wis.) split another softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Viterbo Outdoor Athletics Complex, playing their final ever four-game conference series before VU move to a new athletic conference next season.  The V-Hawks used a 9-run first inning offensive explosion to earn a 9-4 game one win, while the Trojans closed the four-game series with a 7-4 victory in the second game.

Dakota State is 7-24 overall record and 4-12 record in the North Star conference contests.  Viterbo is 8-29 overall record and 5-11 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans finished with a 17-13 NSAA conference regular-season series record with the V-Hawks after splitting their four-game series this weekend.

DSU is scheduled to host Morningside (Iowa) in a make-up non-conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.  The first game is set for 3 p.m. at Thue Field.  Stay tuned to the dsuathletics.com or download the Trojan Nation Fan app to stay up to date with the schedule changes.

Dakota State returns home Saturday and next Sunday for their final home contests of the season.  The Trojans host Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star's four-game series at Thue Field.  The doubleheader starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. next Sunday.  DSU's softball squad will be horning their seniors next weekend during their final home contests of the season.

Game 1 – Viterbo (Wis.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

Dakota State opened with a bases loaded situation with no outs after Hannah McFarland's single and back-to-back walks by Mackenzie Sims and Michelle Evdos.  DSU could not score on the next two at-bats where McFarland and Sims were forced out at home after a pair of fielder's choices from Rosie Philop and Mason Usselman.

Alexus Foster and Olivia Peterson each produced back-to-back RBI walks to score Evdos and Philop to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead in the top first frame.

Viterbo poured in nine runs on 10 hits in the bottom half of the first inning, ignited by Amanda Bogdonvich's bases clearing 3-RBI double for VU 3-2 lead.

The V-Hawks continued its scoring surge as Courtney Denton hit a 2-RBI single, followed by Morgan Nortman's RBI single for 6-2 lead. 

Viterbo capped the inning with another bases clearing 3-RBI from Megan Jardine who hit a triple, ballooning their lead to 9-2.

Dakota State held the V-Hawks to one hit for the remaining of the game. 

The Trojans plated a run in the top second inning.  Sims reached on base with two outs after VU's defensive error.  She swiped to second base.  Evdos produced an RBI single to score Sims as DSU trailed 9-3.

The final run of the game came in the top seventh inning for DSU.  McFarland led off the inning with a double and advanced to third base after Sims' single.  Evdos hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score McFarland (VU led 9-4).

Dakota State left a runner on base when the game ended, securing the victory for Viterbo.

VU outhit DS U11-6 in the game.  The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the V-Hawks three runners left on base.

McFarland sparked DSU's offense with a double, two singles, a stolen base and a run scored.  Evdos added a single and two RBIs.  Sims had a single, a stolen base, and a run scored.  Foster and Peterson each registered a walk and an RBI.  Jordyn Jeffries collected a hit.

Nortman led VU with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI.  Jardine added a triple, single, and drove in three runs.  Bogdonovich hit a double and tallied three RBIs.  Denton had a single, walk, and two RBIs.  Grace Elton, Kate Olsen, and Alina Garstka each had a hit and a run scored.

Analicia Burgos (L, 0-3) took the setback in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  Usselman also worked in the first inning.  Maycee Bricker tossed five shutout innings in relief, limiting the V-Hawks to one hit.

Alexis Watson (W, 5-11) earned a complete game victory for Viterbo.  She gave up four runs (one unearned) on six hits. 

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 7, Viterbo (Wis.) 4 – FINAL

Trailing 3-2 after three innings in the four-game series finale, Dakota State poured in four runs in the top fourth inning and held on to a 7-4 victory.

DSU grabbed the first lead of the game in the top second inning, thanks to Alexus Foster's solo home run blast with two outs.  It was her first home run this season and her fifth career home run at Dakota State.

The Trojans added a run in the top third frame.  McFarland led off with a walk and swiped to second base.  She advanced to third base after Sims' sacrifice bunt.  Evdos hit an RBI single to score McFarland to extend DSU's lead to 2-0.

With runners on third and first base in the bottom third with two outs, Sydney Haakenson hit an RBI double followed by Marissa Carter-Olson's 2-RBI single to give Viterbo a 3-2 lead.

DSU answered with four runs in the top fourth inning, fueled by Jeffries' double followed by Foster's single with one out.  Quincy Hartley produced an RBI ground out to score Jeffries to tie the game at 3-3 (Foster advanced to third base).

McFarland registered a walk and swiped to second base for DSU in the top fourth.  Sims recorded a walk, while Foster scored home on a stolen base on the same play as the Trojans regained their lead at 4-3 (McFarland swiped to third base).  Sims swiped to second base.

Dakota State ballooned their lead to 6-3 as Evdos hit a 2-RBI single to score McFarland and Sims in the top fourth.

The Trojans extended their lead to 7-3 in the top fifth as Foster drilled a two-out RBI double to score Delaney Barrett, who led off with a single.

Viterbo scored once in the bottom sixth inning caused by DSU's defensive error (DSU led 7-4).

Dakota State secured the victory in the final inning as the V-Hawks left two runners on base.

The Trojans tallied 10 hits in the game compared to VU six hits.

Foster was 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, double, two RBIs, and two runs scored for DSU.  Evdos added three singles and three RBIs.  Sims, Philop, Barrett, and Jeffries each tallied a hit.  McFarland and Sims each registered two walks.  Hartley collected an RBI.

McFarland swiped three bases in the game for Dakota State.  Sims, Foster, and Peterson each added a stolen base.

Carter-Olson paced the V-Hawks with a double, single, and drove in two runs.  Haakenson added a hit, RBI, walk, and a run scored.  Jardine, Denton, and Garstka each recorded a hit.

Barrett (W, 6-8) tossed a complete game victory for DSU.  She allowed four runs on six hits.

Emily Roberts (L, 0-6) took the loss after working for 3 2/3 innings for VU.  She gave up five runs on seven hits.  Bogdonovich pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits.