Trojans Drop Both Games in Regular Season Finale

The Dakota State softball dropped both of their games in their regular season finale against Valley City State, losing 12-9 and 5-3.

The Trojans opened up game one with five runs in the bottom of the first, with three coming off of Rosie Philop’s 3-RBI Double. Mackenzie Sims then hit a 2-Run Home run in the inning. 

Both teams scored three runs in the second inning as the Trojans led 8-3.

The Vikings then scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to grab an 11-8 lead after five innings. The two sides each added one more run, and with the Trojans unable to add any more, the Vikings were able to win the first game yesterday by a 12-9 final.

The Vikings had 12 hits in the game compared to the Trojans 10 hits. Both teams committed four defensive errors.

Michelle Evdos hit two triples in the game, tying the single-game record for most triples for Dakota State. She also had two walks and an RBI. Rebecca Hazlett recorded a triple and an RBI. Sims had a home run, single, and drove in two runs. Grace Ortmeier had two singles. Carrington Entringer added a single and two runs scored.  

Riley Perryman collected three doubles and two RBIs for Valley City State.

Sophia Cordova started the game in the pitching circle for DSU, working for 3 2/3 innings. She allowed six runs (four unearned) on seven hits. Philop (L, 0-2) took the defeat after pitching an inning in relief. She allowed five unearned runs on three hits.  Ortmeier tossed 2 1/3 innings and yielded one run on two hits in relief. She recorded three strikeouts.

Joelle Lamontagne pitched the first two innings for VCSU. She gave up eight runs (four unearned) on six hits. Brooke Gaudry (W, 2-4) earned the win in relief after pitching five innings. She allowed one run on four hits and recorded six strikeouts.

In the second game, the Vikings used multiple two-run innings to get the win over the Trojans.

The Vikings opened up the game with a run in the top of the first inning. The Trojans were able to get the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third off of Michelle Evdos’s 2-RBI Single. VCSU answered in the top of the fourth with a two-run inning of their own to regain the lead at 3-2. 

DSU tied it back up in the bottom of the fifth at 3-3. The Vikings again answered the Trojans scoring, with another two-run inning in the top of the sixth to regain the lead for good at 5-3. DSU was unable to answer, as VCSU grabbed the doubleheader sweep. 

VCSU outhit DSU 7-5 in the game.

Evdos had a triple, single, and drove in two RBIs for the Trojans. She also had a walk.  Entringer, Sims, and Cordova each added a hit.

Makenzee Stones had a double, a walk, and scored twice for the Vikings.  

Maycee Bricker started the game in the pitching circle for Dakota State. She tossed 3 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on four hits. Cordova (L, 3-5) took the defeat in relief, working 3 1/3 innings and giving up two runs (one unearned) on three hits. 

Maddy Zander (W, 11-7) earned a complete game victory for Valley City State.  She allowed three runs (one unearned) on five hits.

With the losses, Dakota State ended their regular season with a 13-32 overall record, and secured the fourth seed at 12-15 conference record for the upcoming NSAA postseason tournament, which is set for Friday at Bravera Field in Dickinson, ND.  

Valley City State lifted their overall record to 24-21 and earned the two seed in the conference postseason tournament.

The NSAA has not announced its game times for the conference tournament, but the Trojans will be facing the five seed Viterbo