April 6, 2025

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) fell short in the North Star Athletic Association softball four-game series opener with Jamestown (N.D.) Sunday evening at Nelson Family Bubble.  The Jimmies swept the Trojans in a doubleheader by the scores of 8-0 and 7-2.

The NSAA four-game series was originally scheduled to be played at Thue Field, but recent wet weather conditions had moved the series indoors.  The Trojans are the home team in the conference's four-game series with the Jimmies.

Dakota State fell to 4-23 overall record and 0-6 NSAA conference record.  Jamestown, receiving votes to the latest edition of the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 22-9 and 6-0 record in the league.

Both teams play another doubleheader on Monday afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. at the same venue.

Game 1 – (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

Jamestown tallied 14 hits in the first game of the doubleheader and held Dakota State to two hits to secure the victory. 

The Jimmies poured in five runs in the top second inning, capped by back-to-back RBI singles from Lauren Weigel and Maddie Spaeth for a 5-0 lead.

UJ added a run in the top sixth inning to make it 6-0.  The Jimmies ballooned their lead to 8-0 in the top seventh inning after Kaitlin McCartney's 2-RBI single.

Hannah McFarland and Gabrielle Ortega-Alves each recorded a single for the Trojans.  McFarland swiped one base.  Julia Maldonado and Quincy Hartley each registered a walk.

Spaeth and Kate Geiszler each had three hits for the Jimmies.  Sydney Grendler added two singles and two RBIs.  McCartney had a single and two RBIs.  Trinity Gregg tallied two hits. 

Maycee Bricker (L, 3-5) pitched a complete game in the circle, despite the setback for DSU.  She gave up eight runs (three unearned) on 14 hits.

Hope Ransome (W, 6-4) earned the victory after tossing six innings for UJ.  She scattered two singles and registered eight strikeouts.  Maddie Hairgrove tossed a shutout seventh inning in relief, collecting two strikeouts.

Game 2 – (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Jamestown scored the first four runs in the first three innings in the second game of the doubleheader.  UJ never trailed in the game to secure the victory.

Spaeth hit an RBI single in the top first inning to give UJ a 1-0 lead. 

Tori Olson drilled an RBI double, while Spaeth added an RBI fielder's choice to extend Jamestown's lead to 3-0 in the top second.  The Jimmies made it 3-0 in the top third as McCartney smashed a solo home run.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought in the bottom half of the third inning.  Jordyn Jeffries and Maldonado led off with back-to-back singles.  Hannah Feser reached safely after a bunt fielder's choice, setting up a bases loaded situation.

McFarland hit an RBI single to score Jeffries as the Trojans trailed 4-1 in the bottom third.  After Maldonado was out at home from Ally Morrissey fielder's choice, Ortega-Alves hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Feser as DSU trimmed UJ's lead to 4-2.

Jamestown plated two runs in the top sixth as their lead grew to 6-2, capped by Kayla Quintanilla's RBI triple.  Trinity Gregg added an RBI single in the top seventh to make it 7-2 UJ.

The Jimmies outhit the Trojans 14-5 in the game.  Jamestown left 12 runners on base compared to Dakota State eight runners left on base.

McFarland and Ortega-Alves each recorded a single and an RBI for DSU.  Jeffries, Maldonado, and Feser each added a hit. 

Michelle Evdos, Katie Hansen, and Feser each had a walk.  Morrissey recorded a stolen base.

Spaeth led the Jimmies with three hits and three RBIs.  Gregg and Quintanilla each added two hits and an RBI. 

Analicia Burgos (L, 0-6) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for three innings and allowed four runs (one unearned) on six hits.  Makenna McGee pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, giving up two unearned runs on four hits.  Mason Usselman tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief.

Abby Blair (W, 8-4) earned the win after working 5 2/3 innings for Jamestown.  She allowed two runs on five hits.  Hairgrove pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief.