April 19, 2025

PORTLAND, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) battled with Mayville State (N.D.) for their first North Star Athletic Association softball victory this season Saturday afternoon at Paul Karlstad Field.  The Comets took the first two games of the four-game series, defeating the Trojans by the scores of 11-0 in five innings and 13-5 in six innings.

Dakota State fell to 4-32 overall record and 0-14 record in the league.  Mayville State snapped their losing skid, improving to 8-31 overall record and 2-12 NSAA conference record.

Both teams will take a day off before returning to action on Monday afternoon.  The Trojans return to Paul Karlstad Field for another NSAA softball doubleheader with the Comets, starting at 2 p.m.

Game 1 – Mayville State (N.D.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/5 innings

The Comets produced three doubles in the bottom first inning to grab the first lead of the game.  After Lacey Mathiowetz's single with one out, Lindsey Tulla followed up with a double to advance Mathiowetz to third base.  Madison Terres drilled a 2-RBI double to score Mathiowetz and Tulla for 2-0 MSU lead.

Ryanne Bass added an RBI double with two outs to score Terres, ballooning Mayville State's lead to 3-0 in the bottom first.

Mayville State's lead grew to 4-0 in the bottom second, thanks to Tulla's RBI to score Mackenzie Hughes who hit a one-out triple.

The Comets produced seven runs in the bottom fourth frame, capped by a 2-RBI single from Hughes to widen their lead to 11-0.

Dakota State was unable to score in the top fifth inning, despite leaving the bases loaded after Gabrielle Ortega-Alves' single, followed by a pair of walks from Jordyn Jeffries and Hannah Feser.

MSU outhit DSU 16-4 in the game.

Hannah McFarland, Ally Morrissey, Katie Hansen, and Ortega-Alves each recorded a single for Dakota State.  Jeffries and Feser each registered a walk. 

Terres had two hits and drove in three runs for Mayville State.  Hughes added two hits and two RBIs.  Tulla tallied three hits and two RBIs.  Antarez Sierra recorded two hits and an RBI.  Maizie Wolanski and Bass each had a hit and an RBI.

Analicia Burgos recorded the setback in the pitching circle for DSU, going 3 1/3 innings.  She allowed seven runs (two unearned) on 11 hits.  Mason Usselman tossed two outs in relief. 

Mathiowetz earned the victory after tossing a complete game for MSU.  She scattered four singles.

Game 2 – Mayville State (N.D.) 13, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL/6 innings

Dakota State was unable to hold on to their 5-3 lead after four-and-half innings in the second game of the doubleheader.  Mayville State scored 10 unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined, earning a 13-5 victory.

The Trojans took the first lead of the game in the top first inning.  McFarland led off with a single and advanced to second on MSU's passed ball.  She advanced to third base after Morrissey's ground out.  Ortega-Alves reached safely on base after Comets' defensive error, allowing McFarland to score for DSU 1-0 lead.

Mayville State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning.  Tulla hit an RBI single to score Hughes who was hit by pitch and swiped to second base to lead off.  MSU made it 2-1 after a passed ball committed by DSU.

Jeffries led the top second inning with a walk.  Torrence Clelland reached safely on base after Comets' defensive miscue and advanced Jeffries to second base.  A wild pitch by Mayville State allowed Jeffries to advance to third base and Clelland to second base.

McFarland drilled a 2-RBI double with two outs, scoring Jeffries and Clelland as Dakota State regained their lead to 3-2.

DSU produced another two runs inning in the top third.  Ortega-Alves and Quincy Hartley kicked off with back-to-back singles.  Michelle Evdos produced a sacrifice to advance Ortega-Alves to third base and Hartley to second base.

Jeffries hit an RBI single to score Ortega-Alves as DSU's lead grew to 4-2.  Clelland followed up with an RBI single to score Hartley as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 5-2.

Autumn McGough hit an RBI single to score Terres, how hit a double with two outs in the bottom third (DSU led 5-3).

Mayville State poured in eight runs in the bottom fifth inning, highlighted by a 2-run home run from Terres and four straight scoring plays to take an 11-5 lead.

The Comets closed the game by scoring two runs in the bottom sixth, securing the victory with two outs remaining.

MSU collected 14 hits in the game compared to the Trojans nine hits.  Dakota State left nine runners on base compared to the Comets with three runners left on base.

McFarland was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two singles, a stolen base, and two RBIs for DSU.  Ortega-Alves, Jeffries, and Clelland each added a single and an RBI.  Jeffries had two walks.  Evdos recorded a double.  Morrissey and Hartley each had a hit.

Terres led MSU with three hits and three RBIs.  Mathiowetz and McGough each added two hits and an RBI. Hughes, Miquela Pino, Desiree Lawrence, and Sierra each had a hit and an RBI.

Maycee Bricker (L, 3-7) took the defeat after tossing four-plus innings for Dakota State.  She allowed seven runs (two unearned) on seven hits.  Makenna McGee and Usselman also pitched in relief. 

McGough started the game for Mayville State, working 2 1/3 innings in the circle.  She gave up five runs (three unearned) on five hits.  Bailey Momberg (W, 4-5) earned the victory after tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.  She limited the Trojans to four hits.  Both McGough and Momberg registered four strikeouts.