April 30, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. – Top-seed Dickinson State (N.D.) used an explosive second inning and never looked back Thursday afternoon, defeating eighth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) 10-2 in five innings during the opening round of the inaugural 2026 Frontier Conference Softball Tournament at Bravera Field on Sanford Sports Complex.
The Blue Hawks improved to 37-12 overall, while Dakota State fell to 14-35 overall record.
How it happened
Dickinson State broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning, plating four runs on six hits. Viennah Meyer opened the rally with a single and later scored on a stolen-base sequence. Jessa Duggan added an RBI single before Stocktyn Stevenson delivered the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run single to center field for a 4-0 advantage.
The Blue Hawks added another run in the third when Kiley Hubby scored on a passed ball, then Duggan launched a solo home run in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 6-0.
Dakota State responded in the top of the fifth.
Julia Maldonado drew a walk and
Quincy Hartley crushed a two-run home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 6-2. It was Hartley's lone hit of the contest and accounted for both Trojan RBIs.
Dickinson State quickly answered in the bottom half of the fifth with four more runs to end the game early via the run rule. Duggan singled home a run, Celina Wilharm drew a bases-loaded walk, another run scored on a wild pitch, and Hubby capped the scoring with an RBI single.
Dakota State managed just one hit in the game, Hartley's home run, while drawing four walks. Dickinson State pounded out 13 hits and received three-hit production from Duggan, who scored three times and drove in three runs. Stevenson added two hits and two RBIs, while Hubby went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Hope Fath (W, 12-1) earned the win for Dickinson State, allowing one hit and two earned runs over four innings with four walks and three strikeouts. Ava Jahner worked the fifth inning in relief.
Maycee Bricker (L, 9-12) took the loss for Dakota State after allowing six runs on nine hits in three innings.
Makenna McGee and
Grace Kitterman also saw time in the circle for the Trojans.
Final Statistics
Dakota State Leaders
Dickinson State Leaders
- Jessa Duggan: 3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs
- Stocktyn Stevenson: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, run scored
- Kiley Hubby: 2-for-4, RBI, run scored
- Izzy Kelly: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored
- Allyson Farrington: 1-for-1, 2 runs scored, 2 walks
Up Next
Dakota State faces elimination as they play No. 5 seed Carroll (Mont.) Friday morning at 10 a.m. (Central Time)/9 a.m. (Mountain Time).
