February 22, 2025

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) earned another split Saturday late afternoon as they closed their indoor preseason softball tournament at American State Bank Sports Complex.  The Trojans split a pair of games against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, defeating College of Saint Mary (Neb.) 5-4 in the first game and falling short to Hastings 9-4 in the nightcap.

Dakota State is 3-9 overall record.  College of Saint Mary is 2-6 overall record and Hastings 3-3 overall record.

The Trojans are scheduled to play their first outdoor contests Friday, playing a doubleheader at Sterling (Kan.).  The first game of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. in Sterling, Kan.

DSU then play a four-game slate in the Friends (Kan.) Invitational next weekend in Wichita, Kan.

Dakota State (S.D.) 5, College of Saint Mary (Neb.) 4 – FINAL

Dakota State took the first lead of the game in the opening inning, highlighted by Jordyn Jeffries' triple with one out.  Gabrielle Ortega-Alves followed up with an RBI single to score Jeffries to give DSU 1-0 lead.

The Flames answered with a run in the bottom half of the first inning.  With two runners on base, Macy Santoni produced an RBI single as CSM tied the game at 1-1.

DSU plated two runs in the top second inning, thanks to three straight doubles with two outs.  Alexis Ressenguie hit the first double.  Hannah McFarland and Jeffries followed up with back-to-back RBI doubles, producing two runs as the Trojans take a 3-1 lead.

CSM answered with two runs in the bottom second, highlighted by Ella Watt's 2-RBI double with two outs.  The game was tied at 3-3 after two innings.

College of Saint Mary overtook the lead in the bottom fourth inning.  Makenna Earnest hit a single with one out and advanced to second after Watts' ground out.  Shaylynn Campbell hit an RBI single to score Earnest as CSM took a 4-3 lead after four innings.

The Trojans scored once in the top fifth inning.  McFarland reached safely on base caused by CSM's defensive error to start the inning.  She swiped to second base.  Jeffries produced an RBI single to score McFarland as DSU knotted the game 4-4. 

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring chances in the top fifth inning, despite leaving bases full after Ortega-Alves' single and Quincy Hartley's walk (Jeffries advanced to third base after Hartley's walk).

Jeffries led off the top seventh inning with a single for the Trojans.  She swiped to second base after Ortega-Alves was struck out looking.  She advanced to third base after Michelle Evdo's fly out.  Katie Hansen hit an RBI single to score Jeffries as Dakota State regained their lead 5-4.

College of Saint Mary left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for DSU.

The Flames outhit the Trojans 10-9.

Jeffries was perfect at the plate by going 4-for-4 with a triple, double, two singles, drove in two runs, and scored twice for Dakota State.  She also had a stolen base.  McFarland added a double, two runs scored, an RBI, and swiped one base.  Ortega-Alves tallied two singles and an RBI.  Hansen had a single and an RBI.  Ressenguie had a double and a run scored.

Campbell went 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI for College of Saint Mary.  Watts recorded a double and two RBIs.  Santoni had a single and RBI.  Earnest hit two singles and scored twice.  Megan Garcia and Maycee Hays each registered a hit.

Mason Usselman started the game in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for two innings and allowed three runs on five hits.  Maycee Bricker (W, 2-1) earned the victory after tossing five innings in relief, yielding the Flames to one run on five hits.

CSM used four different pitchers in the game, with the three pitchers working for two innings each.  Megan Garcia started the game and gave up three runs on five hits.  Watts allowed an unearned run on two hits.  Victoria Placzek tossed two shutout innings.  Campbell (L, 1-5) recorded the defeat after pitching the seventh inning with a run and two hits allowed.

Hastings (Neb.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

Hastings used a fast start in the night cap with four runs scored, thanks to a pair of 2-RBI singles from Lexie Mudloff and Katyn Kappler for a 4-0 lead.

After two outs in the bottom second inning, the Trojans produced their first run of the game.  Hartley recorded a walk followed by Ressenguie's single to advance Hartley to second base.  Hannah Feser hit an RBI single to score Hartley as DSU trailed 4-1.

Dakota State left bases full in the bottom third inning, despite singles from Ortega-Alves and Usselman and a walk from Evdos.   The Trojans trailed 4-1 after three innings.

DSU added a run in the bottom half of the fourth frame.  McFarland drilled a double with two outs.  Jeffries followed up with a single and advanced McFarland to third base.  Ortega-Alves produced an RBI single to score McFarland as Dakota State trimmed the Broncos' lead to 4-2.

Dakota State rallied back to tie the game in the bottom sixth inning after scoring twice.  Feser recorded a walk with one out.  McFarland followed up with a single and advanced Feser to third base.  McFarland swiped to second base and allowed Feser to scored caused by HC's defensive miscue as the Trojans trailed 4-3.

Ortega-Alves followed up with an RBI single to score McFarland with two outs as Dakota State tied the game 4-4 in the bottom sixth.

Hastings snapped their scoring drought, erupting for five runs in the final inning.  Lauren Lee highlighted the scoring run with a 2-run home run to grab a 9-4 lead.

Dakota State was unable to come back in the bottom seventh inning, leaving a runner on first base by Torrence Clelland's walk.

The Broncos tallied 16 hits in the game compared to the Trojans 12 hits.

McFarland was 3-of-4 at the plate with a double, two singles, and scored twice for DSU.  She also had a stolen base.  Ortega-Alves added three singles and two RBIS.  Evdos recorded two hits and a walk.  Feser had a single, RBI, run scored, and a walk.  Ressenguie had a hit.

Lee led the Broncos with a home run, double, two RBIs, two walks and two runs scored.  Isabel Tanabe added four singles.  Lexie Mudloff collected four hits and two RBIs.  Lauren Schneider recorded two singles and an RBI.  Kaylee Pinneo and Katyn Kappler each had a hit and two RBIs.

Makenna McGee started the game in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for two outs.  Analicia Burgos tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing six hits.  She struck out four Hastings' batters.  Bricker (L, 2-2) took the defeat after pitching 1 1/3 innings, giving up five runs (one unearned) on five hits.  Usselman pitched the final two outs in the top seventh inning in relief.

Angelina Lockhart pitched 3 2/3 innings for Hastings, giving up two runs on nine hits.  Bailey Schmit worked for 1 2/3 innings in relief, yielding two runs (one unearned) on one hit.  Dani Sitts (W, 1-1) earned the victory after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings.