Dakota State Takes 2 of 3, Earning First Victories of 2018
The Trojans softball team returned to the Presentation Dome this past weekend to play three games against three separate opponents, York (NE), Dakota Wesleyan (SD), and Mount Marty (SD), taking two of the three games.
The Trojans dropped the first game of the day to York by a score of 8-5. The Trojans found themselves down 6-1 early, after both teams would trade blows, the York Panthers would hold off the Trojans late to secure their first victory of the year. Nicole Stewart homered for The Trojans while Audrey Kosman, Peyton Brokiewicz, Jasmin Lucero, and Xitlali Lopez would all add RBI’s. Kelly Drake pitched for the Trojans, going the distance and taking the loss, giving up eight runs on thirteen hits. Stewart went 4 for 4 in the game, with two singles, a double, and a homerun. Lopez also added a homerun of her own. The Trojans would bounce back quickly as they took on Dakota Wesleyan in the second game.
The Trojans found their first win of the year, taking out in-state rival Dakota Wesleyan by a score of 8-5. The ladies jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, and would hold that lead until a late surge by the Tigers found them tied going into extra innings. Xitlali Lopez would lead off the 8th inning with a solo home run to take back the lead, and Tatum Ronke would pad that lead with a two-run home run two batters later. This would give the Trojans the 8-5 advantage, allowing Lopez to enter the game and close the door, earning the ladies their first victory of the 2018 season. Audrey Kosman would get the win on the mound, recording the final two outs of the 7th inning, while Lopez would earn the save. Stefani Gollin started the game in the pitching circle for the Trojans, tossing 6 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on ten hits. Nicole Stewart, Jasmin Lucero, Xitlali Lopez, Peyton Brokiewicz, Taylor Poe, and Tatum Ronke would all produce RBI hits for the Trojans. The ladies would carry this momentum into their final game of the day against another in-state rival in Mount Marty.
The Trojans softball team would round out their day with a second straight victory as they took down the Lancers in dramatic fashion, coming back to beat the Lancers by score of 8-7. The Trojans found themselves down early as Mount Marty capitalized on a few Trojan miscues and took control with a 4-0 lead. The ladies wouldn’t stay down for long as Peyton Brokiewicz put a charge in to the Trojan offense and the softball as she blasted a solo homerun to put them on the board in the 2nd inning. The Trojans would add two more runs in the 4th inning as Brokiewicz would add to her RBI total, scoring Xitlali Lopez. Melissa Krampf would come through later that inning with an RBI of her own, cutting the lead to 4-3. The two teams would trade runs before Nicole Stewart would come through with a two RBI single, pushing the Trojan lead to 8-5. The Lancers would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh but to no avail as Lopez would close the door to finish off the Lancers and secure the win for the Trojans. Lopez got the win in the contest, tossing a complete game, giving up seven runs on eleven hits. Melissa Krampf had an RBI for the Trojans, while Nicole Stewart added two RBI’s. Leading the charge for the Trojan offense in game three was Peyton Brokiewicz, who went 4 for 4 and added 5 RBI’s.
The Trojans look to keep the momentum rolling as they head into conference play this Friday, Feb. 23, when they return to the Presentation (SD) Dome to take on Bellevue (NE) for a doubleheader and Waldorf (IA) on Saturday, Feb. 24.
