ABERDEEN, S.D. - At the neutral, and more importantly, indoor Aberdeen Dome, the Dickinson State softball team split two conference games with Waldorf University (Iowa), winning the first 3-2 and dropping the second 11-6 on Friday, April 6.
Senior outfielder Rachael Dillon started the first game with a home run. In her next at bat, she sent another one out of the park, giving the Blue Hawks a 2-0 lead.
In a tight pitching battle, most innings were three up, three down, but that changed in the fifth and sixth.
Blue Hawks senior pitcher Jalen Creech saw five batters in both innings, giving up a run in each. Over seven innings she allowed three hits and struck out two.
Warriors pitcher Kaylie Brindley also saw five batters in both the fifth and sixth inning.
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With one out in the sixth, junior catcher Jordan Menke got on base with a hit into left field. Junior third baseman Kayla Stephens stepped up to the plate and doubled on a line drive, pushing Menke to score the go-ahead run.
In the nightcap, Stephens put up four hits, but it wasn't enough to overcome a hot Warriors offense.
Propelled by a three-run homer from Stephens in the first, the Blue Hawks (16-14, 7-6 NSAA) took a 4-0 lead.
The Warriors (7-21, 7-9 NSAA) answered with four runs in the third inning, helped by a three-run home run off the bat of sophomore Payge Jurgens.
DSU head coach Kristen Fleury pulled junior pitcher Abi Brooks after she allowed a double on the second pitch of the fourth, putting in Creech. Creech gave up five hits and six runs over a third of an inning.
Freshman pitcher Carrie Nagel pitched the final 3 ⅔ innings, allowing just one hit.
The Warriors led 11-5 after four innings. Stephens scored in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Dickinson State 3, Waldorf (Iowa) 2
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W 000 011 0 - 2 3 0
DSU 101 001 X - 3 6 2
Kaylie Brindley and Bree Hamblin, Bryn Gibbs. Jalen Creech and Jordan Menke.
W-Creech. L-Brindley. HR- DSU, Dillon 2.
Highlights: W, Hattie Hupke 2-3, 2B, 3B, 1 R; Madison Mason 1-3, 2B, 1 R; Lauren Hein 1 RBI; Brindley 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1K 1, 1 BB. DSU, Dillon 2-2, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; Menke 1-3, 2B, 1 R; Kayla Stephens 1-3, 2B, 1 RBI; Claire Shoffit 1-3, 2B; Emilie Sickler 1-2.
Waldorf 11, Dickinson State 6
W 004 700 0 - 11 12 4
DSU 401 000 1 - 6 9 4
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McKenna Marcinkowski and Hamblin. Abi Brooks (3), Creech (0.1), Carrie Nagel (3.2) and Menke.
W-Marcinowski. L-Creech. HR- W, Mason, Payge Jurgens. DSU, Stephens.
Highlights: W, Kennedy Vinchattle 3-4, 2 R; Jurgens 3-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI; Mason 2-4, HR, 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI; Marcinowski, 7 IP, 9 H, 6 R (2 ER), 5 K, 2 BB. DSU, Stephens 4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; Claire Shoffit 3-4; Sonja Lawrence 2-4, 1 R; Mariah Gamboa RBI; Sarah Dobitz RBI; Brooks 3 IP, 6 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 K, 1 BB.
