February 21, 2025

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) returned to the American State Bank Sports Complex softball tournament (dome indoor) for the third time Friday afternoon, hosted by Dordt (Iowa).  The Trojans kicked off the tournament with a 9-1 five-inning victory over York (Neb.) of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.  DSU fell short in the second game to in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference by the score of 3-1.

Dakota State is 2-8 overall record.  York is 4-9 overall record after their defeat to DSU.  Mount Marty improved to 5-5 overall record.  The Trojans and the Lancers are scheduled to play home-and-away later in the season outdoors.

The Trojans close out their preseason indoor tournament late Saturday afternoon, taking on a pair of Great Plains Athletic Conference teams.  DSU takes on College of Saint Mary (Neb.) at 4 p.m., followed by a contest versus Hastings (Neb.) at 6 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 9, York (Neb.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

Dakota State used a fast start in the first game, scoring five runs in the first two innings and never trailed for their second win of the season.

Hannah McFarland led the bottom first inning with a single and swiped to second base with one out for DSU.  Gabrielle Ortega-Alves extended her hitting streak to nine games as she hit a single and advanced McFarland to third base.

After Ortega-Alves swiped to second base, Michelle Evdos drilled a 2-RBI double down the right field line to score McFarland and Ortega-Alves to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.

DSU plated three more runs in the bottom second frame.  Hannah Feser hit a single and advanced to third base after McFarland's double with two outs.  Jordyn Jeffries recorded a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.  Ortega-Alves produced an RBI walk to score Feser as the Trojans extended their lead to 3-0.

Dakota State ballooned their lead to 5-0 in the bottom second after a wild pitch committed by the Panthers, allowing McFarland to score.  Jeffries scored on the same play caused by York's defensive error.

The Panthers scored their only run in the top fourth inning.  Nevaeh Reed hit a lead-off single.  She advanced to second base after Paige Chapman's ground out.  Gracie Torstensen added a single to advance Reed to third base.  Faith Torstensen followed up with an RBI ground out to score G. Torstensen (DSU led 5-1).

DSU poured in four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning, sparked by McFarland's lead-off single and swiped to second base.  Jeffries hit a fly out to advance McFarland to third base.  Ortega-Alves recorded an RBI ground out to score McFarland for Trojans' 6-1 lead.

Evdos followed up with a single, while Katie Hansen and Torrence Clelland added back-to-back walks to set up a bases loaded situation in the bottom fourth with two outs.  Quincy Hartley hit a 2-RBI single to score Evdos and Hansen to extend DSU's lead to 8-1 (Clelland advanced to third on the same play).

Dakota State made it 9-1 as Feser hit an RBI single to score Clelland in the bottom fourth.

The Trojans secured the victory in the fifth inning as the Panthers recorded three straight outs.

DSU outhit York 10-4 in the game.

McFarland led the Trojans by going 3-of-3 at the plate with a double, two singles, and scored three runs.  Hartley added two singles and two RBIs.  Feser and Evdos each tallied two hits and an RBI.  Ortega-Alves had a hit and two RBIs.  Jeffries, Ortega-Alves, Hansen, and Clelland each registered a walk.

McFarland swiped two bases for Dakota State.  Ortega-Alves and Feser each added a stolen base.

F. Torstensen led the Panthers with a single and an RBI.  Moriah Hoshowski, Reed, and G. Torstensen each added a single.

Mason Usselman started the game in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She tossed two scoreless innings and limited York to one hit.  Maycee Bricker (W, 1-1) earned the victory after pitching three innings in relief.  She allowed one run on three hits and recorded three strikeouts.

Alex Harwell (L, 2-4) took the defeat after tossing two innings for the Panthers.  She gave up five runs (one unearned) on five hits.  Kaitlyn Roe worked for two innings in relief, allowing four runs on five hits.

Mount Marty (S.D.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

Mount Marty scored two runs in the bottom first inning and held off Dakota State by the score of 3-1 in the second game of the tournament.

The Trojans were unable to score first in the top first fame, despite a lead-off single by McFarland and advanced to second after MMU's wild pitch.

Alyssa Sosky led off the Lancers with a single in the bottom first.  Kayleen Jacinto smashed a 2-run home run to give Mount Marty a 2-0 lead.

DSU's defense halted the Lancers to score in the bottom second inning, leaving the bases full.

Mount Marty extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom fifth inning, thanks to Brooklyn Townsend's RBI sacrifice to score Jacinto who led off the inning with a single and advanced two bases after Janeah Castro's sacrifice bunt and Olivia Valdez's single.

Dakota State was unable to score in the final inning, securing the victory for Mount Marty.

The Lancers recorded 11 hits in the game compared to the Trojans five hits.

McFarland was 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles and a run scored for DSU.  Evdos added a single and an RBI.  Jeffries and Hansen each registered a single. 

Valdez went 3-of-3 with a double and two singles for MMU.  Jacinto added a home run, single, and drove in two runs.  Sosky had two singles.  Ella Ray, Castro, Lilinoe Nihi, and Kaylee McNeese each had a hit.

Makenna McGee (L, 0-1) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for two innings and allowed two runs on five hits.  Analicia Burgos pitched three innings in relief and yielded MMU to one hit on five hits.  Bricker tossed a scoreless sixth inning.

Makayla Graunke (W, 1-2) earned the complete game victory for Mount Marty.  She limited the Trojans to one run on five hits.  She registered four strikeouts.