April 27, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) played their second North Star Athletic Association doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Thue Field.  The Trojans and the Bruins split their one-run games, with DSU earning the first home victory in the first game 3-2.  Dakota State fell short in the second game, despite Bellevue coming back in the final inning for a 4-3 win.

The Trojans are 7-35 overall record and finished their final ever NSAA conference season with 3-17 record.  The Bruins are 28-19 overall record and 12-8 NSAA conference record.  It was the first time that DSU and BU split their NSAA four-game regular-season series in school history.  The last time the Trojans defeated the Bruins for two straight games was on May 4-5, 2018, in the NSAA conference postseason tournament in Aberdeen, S.D.

DSU also earned their first home win over BU since April 22, 2021, at Thue Field.

Dakota State honored their three seniors after the conclusion of the game – Hannah Feser, Michelle Evdos, and Torrence Clelland.

Both teams will face for the fifth straight game as they square off in the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament opening round Thursday at Sanford Sports Complex on Bravera Field in Dickinson, N.D.  BU is the No. 3 seed for the postseason tournament, while DSU is the No. 6 seed

The contest is tentatively scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (Central Time)/3:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) after the No. 4 seed Valley City State (N.D.) and No. 5 seed Mayville State (N.D.) opening round contest at 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT). 

Jamestown (N.D.) is the top seeded team in the conference postseason tournament, while the host team Dickinson State (N.D.) is the No. 2 seed.  Both teams received the opening round bye and won't play until Friday afternoon.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Bellevue (Neb.) 2 – FINAL

The Trojans' defense halted the Bruins from scoring the game's first run in the top second inning, despite a triple from Liana McMurtry with one out.  Miranda Garcia and Savannah Short recorded back-to-back walks with two outs, DSU ended the top second inning with a strikeout.

Dakota State was unable to score in the bottom half of the second inning when Evdos drilled a double with one out.  Katie Hansen recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Evdos to third base but was unable to score.

The Trojans produced three runs in the bottom third inning to grab the first lead of the game.  After the first two outs were recorded, Hannah McFarland drilled a double.  Ally Morrissey added a single and advanced McFarland to third base.  Gabrielle Ortega-Alves was hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation.

Quincy Hartley smashed a bases clearing 3-RBI double to score McFarland, Morrissey, and Ortega-Alves to give Dakota State a 3-0 lead.

DSU highlighted a double play, defensively, in the top fourth inning.  McMurtry led off with a double.  Alexa Sidel hit a fly out to center field as DSU's McFarland caught the ball and threw to third baseman Feser where she tagged McMurtry for a double pla

McFarland also made another defensive assist to lead off the top fifth inning.  Short led off with a single and was tagged out at second base when McFarland threw to shortstop Evdos.

The Bruins mounted a comeback in the top seventh frame.  McMurtry led off with a hit-by-pitch.  Sidel followed up with a walk to advance McMurtry to third base.  After a pitching change by the Trojans, two outs were recorded on the next two batters.

Fiscus recorded a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs for BU in the top seventh.  Fisher produced a 2-RBI single as the Bruins trailed 3-2. 

Dakota State ended the game on the same play as Morrissey threw the ball to Feser and tagged Fiscus out at third base to secure the victory.

Both teams registered five hits in the game.

Hartley led the Trojans with a double and a game-high three RBIs.  McFarland and Evdos each added a double.  Morrissey and Hansen each had a single.  Evdos and Julia Maldonado each recorded a walk.

Fisher was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, single and two RBIs for the Bruins.  McMurtry added a double and single.  Short had a single and a walk.  Sidel, Garcia and Fiscus each recorded a walk.

Mason Usselman (W, 2-10) earned the victory after tossing six-plus innings in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She allowed two runs on four hits.  Maycee Bricker (S, 2) earned her second save after tossing in the seventh inning, yielding the Bruins to one hit.

Katie Cunningham (L, 13-8) recorded the complete game defeat for Bellevue.  She gave up three runs on five hits and registered six strikeouts.

Game 2 – Bellevue (Neb.) 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

Bellevue took the first lead in the top third inning after taking advantage of two defensive errors committed by Dakota State. 

With runners on third and second bases, Cunningham hit a 2-RBI single to score Fiscus and Fisher to give BU a 2-0 lead in the top third. 

The Trojans answered with a run in the bottom third, thanks to Feser's double with one out.  She advanced to third base after a wild pitch committed by the Bruins.  Maldonado collected an RBI ground out to score Feser as DSU trimmed their deficit to 2-1.

Dakota State made their comeback in the bottom sixth inning with two outs.  Maldonado hit a single with one out but was forced out at second base after McFarland fielder's choice to pitcher.  Morrissey followed up with a single to advance McFarland to second base.

Ortega-Alves blasted a 2-RBI triple down the right field line, scoring McFarland and Morrissey as the Trojans grabbed a 3-2 lead.

Bellevue answered with two runs in the top seventh inning to regain their lead, highlighted by Fisher and Cunningham with back-to-back doubles with one out.  Cunningham collected an RBI to score Fisher as the Bruins tied the game 3-3

Mariah Unverzagt added an RBI single with two outs to score Cunningham as BU led 4-3 in the top seventh.

Dakota State was unable to score in the bottom seventh after recording three straight outs, securing the victory for Bellevue.

The Bruins tallied eight hits in the game compared to the Trojans five hits.

Ortega-Alves had a triple and drove in two runs for DSU.  Feser added a double and a run scored.  Maldonado recorded a single and an RBI.  Evdos and Morrissey each had a hit.

Cunningham led BU with three hits (one double, two singles) and drove in three runs.  Unverzagt added two singles and an RBI.  Fisher, Sidel, and Fiscus each recorded a hit.  Fisher swiped two bases. 

Analicia Burgos (L, 0-12) recorded the setback, despite tossing a complete game for Dakota State.  She allowed four runs (two unearned) on eight hits.  She registered three strikeouts.

Unverzagt (W, 8-1) earned the victory after pitching a complete game for Bellevue.  She gave up three runs on five hits.