April 25, 2026

MADISON, S.D. - Dakota State (S.D.) dropped both games of its Frontier Conference softball doubleheader against Bismarck State (N.D.) on a cold, rainy, sleet Saturday afternoon at Thue Field.  The Mystics held off the Trojans 4-1 in the first game and earned a 14-1 five-inning victory in the second game.

Dakota State is 14-34 overall record and finished 6-22 record in the inaugural Frontier Conference.  Bismarck State improved to 18-30 overall record and 13-14 record in the league.
  Game 1: Bismarck State 4, Dakota State 1 – FINAL

Dakota State struck first in the opening inning when Alexia Hayden delivered an RBI double to left-center, scoring Hannah McFarland (led off with a walk), for a 1-0 lead.

Bismarck State responded in the second, capitalizing on a Trojan error to tie the game, and then took control in the fourth inning. The Mystics plated two runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI ground out from Lexi Wesson and an RBI double by Savannah Gustavsson to make it 3-1.

An additional insurance run came in the sixth inning when Wesson singled home Jada Walter, extending the lead to 4-1, which proved to be the final margin.

Dakota State threatened late, putting two runners on in the seventh, but Bismarck State's pitching staff held firm to close out the win.

Game 1 Statistics

• Dakota State: 1 run, 4 hits, 3 errors
• Bismarck State: 4 runs, 8 hits, 1 error

Dakota State Leaders:

• Alexia Hayden: 2-for-4, double, RBI
• Emmalynn Rabe: 1-for-2
• Ally Morrissey: 1-for-2
• Hannah McFarland: 3 walks

Pitching:

• Maycee Bricker (L, 9-11): 7 innings, complete game, 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned runs), 2 strikeouts

Bismarck State Leaders:

• Grace Grimm: 2-for-4
• Lexi Wesson: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
• Savannah Gustavsson: 1-for-4, RBI, double

Pitching:

• Brielle Wrangham (W, 3-3): 4 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run
• Kya Kulzer (S, 1): 3 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs

Game 2: Bismarck State 14, Dakota State 1 – FINAL/5 innings

Bismarck State erupted early and never looked back, scoring two runs in the first inning before exploding for six runs in the second to take an 8-0 lead.

The Mystics continued to pour it on with a five-run third inning, fueled by a three-RBI double from Brielle Wrangham and a two-RBI single by Jordyn Marcoux, pushing the lead to 13-1.

Dakota State's lone run came in the second inning when Lara Dolezal singled to score Quincy Hartley, who had tripled earlier in the frame.

Bismarck State added one more run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, ending the game early via the run rule at 14-1.

Game 2 Statistics

• Dakota State: 1 run, 3 hits, 3 errors
• Bismarck State: 14 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors

Dakota State Leaders:

• Quincy Hartley: 1-for-1, triple, run
• Lara Dolezal: 1-for-2, RBI
• Gabrielle Ortega-Alves: 1-for-1
• Hannah McFarland: 2 walks

Pitching:

• Grace Kitterman (L, 4-14): 2 2/3 innings, 7 runs (4 earned runs)
• Makenna McGee: 1 2/3 innings, 5 runs (3 earned runs)
• Mason Usselman: 2/3 innings, 2 runs (1 unearned), 1 hit

Bismarck State Leaders:

• Brielle Wrangham: 3-for-3, 4 RBI, 2 doubles
• Savannah Gustavsson: 2-for-2, 4 runs, double
• Jordyn Marcoux: 2-for-3, 3 RBI
• Leah Rolland: 1-for-3, 2 RBI

Pitching:

• Jamison Langlois (W, 4-4): 3 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts
• Kathryn Sliman: 2.0 innings, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts

DSU Seniors

Dakota State honored their five seniors after their conclusion of the four-game series, playing their last home games at Thue Field.  Their five seniors are Maycee Bricker, Katie Hanson, Hannah McFarland, Roanna Riggins, and Mason Usselman. Up Next

Dakota State is preparing for the inaugural Frontier Conference softball postseason tournament at Bravera Field on Sanford Sports Complex on Thursday.  The Trojans face the top-seed Dickinson State (N.D.) in the opening round.  Times and pairings will be announced later.

Stay tuned to the dsuathletics.com and fcsports.org for more information when the brackets and pairings become official.