January 31, 2025

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to take advantage of their early leads in the softball season opener Friday evening at American State Bank Sports Complex, hosted by Dordt (Iowa).  The Trojans jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first game but fell to Doane (Neb.) 9-5.  The Trojans led the host team Defenders 2-1 after the first inning and dropped a 9-2 decision.

Dakota State is 0-2 overall record.  Both Doane and Dordt are 2-0 overall record after the first day of the tournament.

The Trojans continue their action on the second day of the tournament Saturday afternoon, taking on NAIA's No. 11 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) at 2 p.m. and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at 6 p.m.

Doane (Neb.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL

Alex Morrissey led off with a single for Dakota State.  Jordyn Jeffries drilled an RBI double to score Morrissey to give DSU a 1-0 lead in the top first inning with one out.

Michelle Evdos followed up with another RBI double to score Jeffries to extend DSU's lead to 2-0.  Evdos tied the all-time doubles record with Nicole Stewart (2017-20) with 51 career doubles. 

Dakota State made it 3-0 in the top first inning as Quincy Hartley hit an RBI single to score Evdos.

Doane answered with a run scored in the bottom half of the first inning by Jasmine Villegans' RBI single (DSU led 3-1).

Evdos blasted a 2-run home run in the top third inning to balloon the Trojans' lead to 5-1, scoring Jeffries who led off the inning with a walk.  It was Evdos' 14^th career home run at DSU.

The Tigers trimmed the Trojans' lead to 5-2 in the bottom half of the third after Milannie Gonzalez's RBI double to score Jaiden Papik after her lead-off walk.

Doane scored seven straight runs from fourth through sixth innings to overtake the lead from Dakota State.  The Tigers scored twice in the bottom fourth and fifth innings before plating three runs in the bottom sixth.

Evdos finished the game by going 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, double, and drove in three runs.  She also had two runs scored.  Morrissey added two singles and a run scored.  Jeffries had a double, an RBI, and scored two runs.  Hartley had a single and an RBI.  Gabriella Ortega-Alves had a double.

Villegas led the Tigers with three hits and two RBIs.  Kayla Meyer added two hits and two RBIs.  Gonzalez had two hits and an RBI.

Mason Usselman started the game in the pitching circle for DSU, yielding two runs on five hits.  Maycee Bricker (L, 0-1) took the defeat after working three innings in relief.

Hannah Kline pitched the first inning for Doane, giving up three runs on four hits.  Bri True (W, 1-0) earned the victory after tossing six innings in relief, highlighted by 10 strikeouts.  She allowed two runs on three hits.

Doane outhit Dakota State 12-7 in the game.

Dordt (Iowa) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

The Defenders scored the first run of the game in the top first.  Brooke Rule was hit-by-pitch and swiped to second base.  Brooklynn Cox hit an RBI single to score Rule to give DU a 1-0 lead.

Dakota State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first frame.  Morrissey led off with a single and advanced to second.  Hannah McFarland added a walk. 

Evdos set a new DSU all-time school record in doubles with 52 after drilling an RBI double to score Morrissey to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom first (McFarland advanced to third base).  Dakota State made it 2-1 as Hartley produced an RBI sacrifice bunt to score McFarland.

Dordt tied the game at 2-2 in the top second inning as Cox hit an RBI single. 

The Defenders held the Trojans scoreless for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  DU plated three runs in the top third inning, highlighted by a 2-RBI double by Peyton Whipple for a 5-2 lead.

Dordt added a pair of runs in the top fifth and seventh innings to round out the final score.

Evdos led the Trojans with a double and an RBI.  McFarland added a double, walk, and run scored.  Morrissey, Jeffries, Ortega-Alves, and Torrence Clelland each registered a hit.

Cox tallied three hits and two RBIs for Dordt.  Addison Stephenson added two hits and two RBIs.  Annabelle Hensley had two hits and two runs scored.  Whipple tallied two hits and three RBIs.

Analicia Burgos (L, 0-1) took the setback after working for three innings in the pitching circle for Dakota State, giving up five runs (three unearned) on five hits.  Makenna McGee worked four innings in relief.

Bailey Sample (W, 1-0) earned a complete game victory for Dordt.  She limited the Trojans to two runs on six hits and recorded five strikeouts.