February 1, 2025

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) faced another two opponents from the Great Plains Athletic Conference on the second day of the American State Bank Sports Complex softball tournament, hosted by Dordt (Iowa).  The Trojans dropped a pair of games to NAIA's No. 11 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) 3-0 and rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 9-1 in six innings.

Dakota State fell to 0-4 overall record in their first preseason tournament of the season.  Both Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan went 4-0 record in the tournament.

The Trojans return to ASBSC for the second time this season on Feb. 14-15 in Sioux Center, Iowa.  DSU will face Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Mount Marty (S.D.) on the first day.  Dakota State then faces No. 11 Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan to close the second day of the tournament.

(11) Northwestern (Iowa) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

The Red Raiders limited the Trojans to four singles in the game to hold on to a slim 3-0 victory.

After a scoreless first inning, Northwestern opened with a 2-0 lead after a 2-run home run by Chloe Gallegos.  She brought in Ashtyn Billings who led off the top second with a single.

Berkley Johannsen added an RBI single to extend NWIA's lead to 3-0 in the top fifth inning.

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring opportunities in the bottom sixth inning with bases loaded after Hannah McFarland and Jordyn Jeffries hit back-to-back singles with two outs, followed by Michelle Evdos' walk to set up a bases loaded situation.

The Trojans left a runner on base in the final inning, despite a single from Julia Maldonado.

McFarland, Jeffries, Gabrielle Ortega-Alves, and Maldonado each recorded a single for Dakota State.  Evdos had a walk.  Ortega-Alves swiped one base.

Gallegos had a home run, two RBIs, and two walks for the Red Raiders.  Johannsen added an RBI, single, and walk.  Sydney Jacobs and Billings each recorded a hit.

NWIA outhit DSU 6-4 in the game.  Northwestern left eight runners on base compared to Dakota State six runners left on base.

DSU's Mason Usselman (L, 0-1) took the defeat in the pitching circle after working for two innings, yielding two runs on two hits.  Maycee Bricker tossed three innings in relief, while Makenna McGee pitched two shutout innings.

Ellie Jacobson (W, 2-0) earned the victory for Northwestern.  She limited the Trojans to one hit and recorded six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.  Abby Flanagan worked for 1 1/3 innings in relief.  Kate Kralik (S, 1) tossed a scoreless seventh inning.

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/6 innings

Dakota Wesleyan opened with a 2-0 lead in the bottom first frame, thanks to Alessandra Ciurca's RBI triple to score Peyton Bagley who led off with a walk.  Ciurca scored home on the same play caused by DSU's defensive error.

Dakota State plated one run in the top third inning to trim their deficit.  Lara Dolezal blasted a lead-off triple.  She scored home as Maldonado produced an RBI sacrifice ground out as DSU trailed 2-1.

DWU extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom fourth when Kassidy Lopez recorded an RBI single.  The Tigers scored another run in the bottom fifth and ended the game in the bottom sixth with two outs after plating five runs.

The Tigers tallied 13 hits in the game compared to the Trojans two hits.

Dolezal led DSU with a triple and a run scored.  Ortega-Alves added a hit.  Maldonado collected an RBI.  Jeffries and Evdos each registered a walk.

Elle Feser tallied three hits and an RBI for DWU.  Lopez and McKinnely Mull each collected two hits and two RBIs.  Ciurca and Ashlen Johnson each had a hit and an RBI.

Analicia Burgos (L, 0-2) recorded the defeat after working the first inning for Dakota State.  McGee tossed four innings in relief, while Bricker pitched the final two outs in the bottom sixth frame.

Alison Ernsberger (W, 2-0) pitched a complete game victory for Dakota Wesleyan, limiting the Trojans to one run on two hits.