April 11, 2026
HELENA, Mont. – Carroll (Mont.) scored 11 straight runs after the lightning delay with Dakota State (S.D.) in the first game of the Frontier Conference softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Nelson Stadium, winning 11-0 in five innings. The Fighting Saints closed the four-game series with a 9-2 game two win over the Trojans, earning a 3-1 series victory in their first all-time series meeting.
Dakota State fell to 10-26 overall record and 4-14 record in the league. Carroll improved to 14-12 overall record and 9-7 Frontier Conference record.
Game 1: Carroll 11, Dakota State 0 – FINAL/5 innings
Carroll (Mont.) used a pair of big innings to overwhelm Dakota State in the opener, scoring six runs in the third inning after nearly two-hours lightning delay and five more in the fourth to secure an 11-0 run-rule victory.
The Saints broke the game open in the third inning capitalizing on a defensive miscue before stringing together timely hits. Taylor Sayers highlighted the frame with a two-RBI double, while Kati Slater added a two-run double later in the inning to push the lead to 6-0. Carroll followed with five more runs in the fourth, including RBI hits from Brynn Notbohm, Kate Kofstad, and a sacrifice fly by Carlee Smith.
Dakota State managed just one hit in the contest, coming from
Gabrielle Ortega-Alves, as Carroll pitcher McKinley Ermshar tossed four scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
Maycee Bricker took the loss for DSU, allowing six runs (four earned) over 2.2 innings.
Game 1 Statistics
- Dakota State: 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error
- Carroll: 11 runs, 14 hits, 0 errors
Dakota State Leaders:
Carroll Leaders:
- Taylor Sayers: 3-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 doubles
- Kati Slater: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
- Sammie Labrum: 2 runs
- Brooke Thompson: 1-for-3, run, stolen base
Pitching:
- Maycee Bricker (DSU, L, 6-8): 2 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 6 runs (4 earned runs)
- McKinley Ermshar (CC, W, 3-6): 4 innings, 1 hit, 0 R, 6 strikeouts
Game 2: Carroll 9, Dakota State 2 – FINAL
Carroll jumped out early and never looked back in the second game, plating five runs in the first inning en route to a 9-2 victory to complete the doubleheader sweep.
The Saints opened the game with four consecutive RBI extra-base hits, including doubles from Tayelynn Puyleart, Sammie Labrum, Brooke Thompson, and Carlee Smith, quickly building a 5-0 advantage.
Dakota State responded with single runs in the second and third innings.
Quincy Hartley drove in DSU's first run with an RBI single, while
Julia Maldonado added an RBI fielder's choice in the third to make it 5-2.
Carroll added three more runs in the fourth inning, aided by a wild pitch and an RBI double from Madison Walker, before tacking on a final run in the sixth.
Maldonado, Hartley,
Hannah McFarland,
Emmalynn Rabe, and
Ally Morrissey each recorded hits for the Trojans.
Grace Kitterman suffered the loss, allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings, while Kennedy Venner went the distance for Carroll, striking out seven.
Game 2 Statistics
- Dakota State: 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors
- Carroll: 9 runs, 10 hits, 1 error
Dakota State Leaders:
Carroll Leaders:
- Sammie Labrum: 3-for-4, RBI, 2 runs
- Brooke Thompson: 2-for-2, 3 runs, RBI, 2 walks
- Tayelynn Puyleart: 2-for-4, RBI
- Madison Walker: 2 RBI
Pitching:
- Grace Kitterman (DSU, L, 3-11): 3 2/3 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs
- Kennedy Venner (CC, W, 5-5): 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 7 strikeouts
Up Next
Dakota State returns home for their non-conference doubleheader finale with Waldorf (Iowa) at Thue Field in Madison. The 'Pink Out' Game, to help raise cancer awareness, is set to start with the first game at 1 p.m.
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