March 25, 2026

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) played a pair of exhibition softball games Wednesday evening, visiting NCAA Division I North Dakota at Albrecht Field.  The Fighting Hawks blanked the Trojans by the scores of 9-0 and 8-0.

Dakota State remains at 7-15 overall record.  North Dakota, a member of the Summit League, improved to 22-11 overall record.

Game 1: North Dakota 9, Dakota State 0 – FINAL/5 innings

North Dakota used a big first inning and dominant pitching to shut out Dakota State 9-0 in the opening game.

The Fighting Hawks wasted no time taking control, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. After an RBI single by Hailey Bethune plated the first run, Makenna Alexander delivered the decisive blow with a three-run home run to left field, giving North Dakota an early 4-0 advantage.

North Dakota continued to build its lead in the second inning. Aleksia Severson drove in a run with a single before Bethune added a two-run single to extend the margin to 7-0.

Dakota State threatened in the first inning with a walk and a single, but stranded runners and struggled to generate offense throughout the game. The Trojans were held hitless after the opening frame and struck out frequently against North Dakota pitching.

The Fighting Hawks added an unearned run in the third inning and another insurance run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Taya Hopfauf.

Game 1 Statistics

Dakota State

• Alexia Hayden: 1-for-2
• Hannah McFarland: walk

North Dakota

• Makenna Alexander: HR, 3 RBIs
• Hailey Bethune: 2 hits, 3 RBIs
• Aleksia Severson: RBI
• Taya Hopfauf: RBI

Pitching

• Dakota State: Maycee Bricker (L), Makenna McGee (relief)
• North Dakota: Unity Nelson (W)

Game 2: North Dakota 8, Dakota State 0 – FINAL/5 innings

North Dakota completed the sweep with another 8-0 victory, again limiting Dakota State's offense and capitalizing on key scoring opportunities.

After two scoreless innings, the Fighting Hawks broke through in the third. Taya Hopfauf delivered an RBI single before Hailey Bethune followed with a two-run double, with both runs aided by a Dakota State error to make it 3-0.

North Dakota added to its lead in the fourth inning. Chloe Bethune hit a solo home run, and later in the inning, a wild pitch and a bases-loaded double by Brooklyn House plated four additional runs to extend the lead to 8-0.

Dakota State struggled offensively once again, failing to record a hit through the first three innings and finishing with minimal baserunners. The Trojans drew a couple of walks but were unable to string together hits.

Game 2 Statistics

Dakota State

• Katie Hansen: 2 walks  

North Dakota

• Chloe Bethune: HR, RBI
• Hailey Bethune: 2 RBI
• Brooklyn House: 2B, 3 RBI
• Taya Hopfauf: RBI

Pitching

• Dakota State: Grace Kitterman (L), Mason Usselman (relief)
• North Dakota: Tehya Armstrong (W)

Up Next

Dakota State returns to Frontier Conference play Saturday and Sunday, notice game day changes.  The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) in a four-game series, starting Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.  The four-game series take place at Softball Complex on the campus of Valley City State.