April 27, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) battled through a pair of pitchers' duel Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association softball action at Roy Smith Field.  The Trojans captured the first game with the conference leader's Bruins by the score of 1-0, earning their first ever road victory at Bellevue.  BU registered a walk-off 2-1 victory in the second game to secure their third straight regular-season league title.

Dakota State is 11-28 overall record and 8-14 record in the North Star conference.  Bellevue is 30-18 overall record and 19-3 NSAA conference record.

DSU and BU conclude the NSAA's four-game series with another doubleheader Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. 

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 1, Bellevue (Neb.) 0 – FINAL

The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chance in the top first inning, despite a lead off walk by Hannah McFarland and advanced to second base after Mackenzie Sims' sacrifice bunt.

DSU prevented BU from scoring in the bottom second inning as Liana McMurtry drilled a lead-off double.

Dakota State left runners on second and third bases in the top third inning. Ally Morrissey and McFarland each recorded a single in the top third.

The Trojans got out of the jam in the bottom fourth inning.  Bellevue left the bases full as Dakota State's defense closed with a struck out looking, remaining scoreless.

Both teams were unable to score through six innings.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought in the top seventh frame.  Qunicy Hartley led off with a single.  Alexus Foster followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Kamryn Petersen, pinch runner for Hartley, to second base.

Mason Usselman, pinch hitting for Olivia Peterson, hit a two-out RBI single to score Peterson as the Trojans grabbed a 1-0 lead.

Dakota State secured their first ever road victory at Bellevue since the North Star conference was formed in 2013-14.  The Bruins left a runner on second base when the game ended.

Both teams tallied five hits and six runners left on base.

Usselman collected a single and an RBI for the Trojans.  McFarland had a single and walk.  Michelle Evdos, Hartley, and Morrissey each recorded a single.  Peterson had a walk.

McMurtry led the Bruins with a double and a single.  Atiana Rodriguez, Madison Machacek, and Savannah Gunn each had a single.

Maycee Bricker (W, 3-10) earned a complete game victory in the pitching circle for DSU.  She yielded five hits and recorded three strikeouts.

Katie Cunningham (L, 16-8) took the complete game setback for BU.  She allowed one run on five hits.

Game 2 – Bellevue (Neb.) 2, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

Dakota State earned the first lead of the game in the second game of the doubleheader.  McFarland led off with a single and advanced to second base after Sims' sacrifice bunt.

Rosie Philop produced a two-out RBI single to score McFarland to give DSU a 1-0 lead in the top first.

The Trojans halted the Bruins' scoring opportunities in the bottom half of the first half, leaving bases loaded as DSU led 1-0.

Bellevue snapped their scoring drought in the bottom fifth inning.  Laila Fiscus led off with a walk.  She advanced to second base after Alexa Sidel's sacrifice bunt.  McMurtry hit a two-out RBI single to score Fiscus as the Bruins tied the game at 1-1.

BU kicked off the bottom seventh with a lead off walk by Leslie Egan, pinch hitting for Sidel.  Rodriguez hit a ground out to advance Sidel, who re-entered the game for Egan, to second base.

McMurtry hit a walk-off RBI single to score Sidel as the Bruins secured the victory and the North Star regular-season title.
Bellevue outhit Dakota State 6-2 in the game.

Philop led the Trojans with a single and an RBI.  McFarland added a single and a run scored. 

McMurtry paced the Bruins' offense with two singles and drove in two runs.  Machacek, Cunningham, and Fiscus each added a single and a walk.  Rodriguez and Fiscus each swiped one base.

Delaney Barrett (L, 7-11) took the defeat after tossing 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits for Dakota State.

Savannah Gunn (W, 11-5) earned the complete game victory for Bellevue.  She yielded one run on two hits and registered 10 strikeouts.