February 14, 2025

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) held off Briar Cliff's (Iowa) late comeback in the first game of the American State Bank Sports Complex Softball Classic No. 2 Friday evening, earning the first win of the season by the score of 6-5.  The Trojans could not overcome Mount Marty's (S.D.) fast start in the nightcap, falling 7-4 to earn a split on the first day of the tournament.

Dakota State is 1-5 overall record after Friday's contests.  Briar Cliff is 0-3 overall record, while Mount Marty improved to 3-3 overall record.

The Trojans continue their action on Saturday on the second day of the tournament, facing NAIA's No. 11 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) at 1 p.m. and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at 3 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 6, Briar Cliff (Iowa) 5 – FINAL

Dakota State's defense halted Briar Cliff to score in the bottom first inning, leaving the bases full despite back-to-back singles from Jessica James and Kaydence Kinder and a hit-by-pitch by Kylie Wilhelms.

The Trojans plated two runs in the top second frame to earn the first lead of the game.  Hannah McFarland led off with a walk and advanced to second base after Katie Hansen's sacrifice hit.  Quincy Hartley drilled an RBI double to score McFarland to give DSU a 1-0 lead.

Lara Dolezal added a single to advance Hartley to second base in the top second for Dakota State.  Hannah Feser produced an RBI ground out to score Hartley to extend the Trojans' lead to 2-0.

With McFarland on second base in the top third inning, Hansen produced an RBI single to score McFarland to balloon Dakota State's lead to 3-0.

The Trojans made it 4-0 in the top fourth inning as Gabrielle Ortega-Alves smashed an RBI double to score Dolezal, who led off the inning with a single.

Dakota State continued their scoring run in the top fifth inning, scoring two runs.  Michelle Evdos led off with a double.  McFarland followed up with a single and advanced Evdos to third base.  After McFarland swiped to second base, Hansen recorded an RBI bunt single to score Evdos for 5-0 DSU lead (McFarland advanced to third base on the same play).

Hartley added an RBI ground out to score McFarland as Dakota State led 6-0 in the top fifth.

The Chargers snapped their scoring drought with four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, capped by a 3-run home run from Kaela Persico.  BCU trimmed DSU's lead to 6-4 after five innings.

Briar Cliff added a run in the bottom sixth inning after Rylee Cain's RBI single to score James, who hit a single with one out and swiped to second base.  Dakota State held a 6-5 lead after the sixth inning.

Both teams did not score in the final inning, securing the victory for the Trojans.

The Trojans tallied 11 hits in the game compared to the Chargers with 10 hits. 

Hansen finished the game by going perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, two singles, and drove in two runs for Dakota State.  Dolezal added two singles.  Hartley had a double and two RBIs.  Evdos and Ortega-Alves each had a double and a single.  McFarland scored three times and swiped two bases.
Persico led the Chargers with a home run and drove in three runs.  James, Kinder, and Karina Cupples each registered two hits.

Mason Usselman (W, 1-1) earned the victory in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits in four-plus innings.  Makenna McGee worked for two outs in the bottom fifth inning in relief.  Maycee Bricker (S, 1) collected her first save of the season after pitching 2 1/3 innings in relief, yielding one run on two hits.

Georgia Krohn (L, 0-2) took the setback for Briar Cliff.  She pitched four innings and allowed six runs on nine hits.  Micheala Wright tossed three shutout innings in relief.

Mount Marty (S.D.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

Mount Marty exploded for three runs in the top first and second innings in the second game, defeating Dakota State 7-4.

The Lancers highlighted the to first inning with an RBI sacrifice fly from Kayleen Jacinto and an RBI single from Janeah Castro.  MMU added a run to extend their lead to 3-0 after a defensive error committed by DSU.

Dakota State answered with a run in the bottom first inning.  Jordyn Jeffries and Ortega-Alves recorded back-to-back walks with one out.  Evdos hit an RBI single to score Jeffries as the Trojans trailed 3-1.

Mount Marty added three runs in the top second inning.  Alyssa Sosky and Jacinto each recorded an RBI single, while Castro added an RBI sacrifice fly to balloon MMU's lead to 6-1.

The Lancers made it 7-1 in the top fourth inning as Jacinto collected an RBI ground out to score Sosky, who led off with a single, swiped to second base, and advanced to third base after Ella Ray's ground out.

DSU trimmed their deficit to 7-2 in the bottom fifth inning with one run scored.  McFarland hit a single with one out and swiped to second base.  Ortega-Alves drilled an RBI double with two outs to score McFarland.

With two runners on base in the bottom sixth frame, Torrence Clelland smashed a 2-RBI double as Dakota State cut Mount Marty's lead to 7-4.

DSU left a runner on base in the bottom seventh inning after Ortega-Alves' hit-by-pitch, securing the victory for MMU.

The Trojans tallied seven hits in the game compared to the Lancers' six hits.

Usselman led Dakota State with two singles and a run scored.  Clelland tallied a double and two RBIs.  Ortega-Alves had a double, RBI, and walk.  Evdos produced a single and an RBI.  McFarland had a hit and a stolen base.

Sosky led the Lancers with three singles, three runs scored, and two stolen bases.  Jacinto added a single and drove in three runs.  Castro had a single and two RBIs.  Olivia Valdez recorded a double.

Usselman (L, 1-2) took the defeat after pitching the first inning for DSU.  Bricker worked for three innings in relief.  Analicia Burgos tossed three shutout innings and registered two strikeouts.

Jacey Hayen (W, 1-1) earned the victory for MMU.  She worked for 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits.  McKenzie Gray pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.