Late comeback and early lead power DSU to doubleheader sweep of Dakota State

Sagan Osborne | Dickinson State Sports Information Director

Dickinson, N.D. – A dramatic come from behind win in game one powered Dickinson State to a Sunday sweep over Dakota State at the Sanford Sports Complex. The Blue Hawks won game one, 6-5, in nine innings before taking game two, 11-7.

GAME 1

Despite outhitting the Trojans 17-6 for the game, the Blue Hawks trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning after a three-run outburst by Dakota State in the top half of the frame. Rhea Paiva singled with one out and scored on a flair down the right field line by Ari Martinez. Hailey Enriquez followed with a double over the head of the right fielder to make it 4-2, before Dallis Mitchell singled up the middle to score pinch runner Kennedy Kuntz to bring DSU to within one.

The Trojans extended their lead back to two with a run in the top of the seventh inning, but the Blue Hawks comeback wasn't finished. Madeline Peralta singled with one out and Emma Woodworth followed with a single of her own to put two runners on for the top of the order. After a fielder's choice put DaSU one out away from victory, Kara Conway doubled to deep left field scoring both runs and tying the game at 5-5. The Trojans then got Martinez to ground out and send the game to extra innings.

After neither team scored in the eight, and Alexa Kappel held the Trojans scoreless in the ninth, the Blue Hawks made their final push. Three singles loaded the bases, but Bailey Pepper was tagged out trying to score for the second Blue Hawk out. Martinez gave DSU their fourth single of the inning to load the bases again, Madeline Peralta won the game with a ball up the middle that was mishandled by the Trojan defense allowing the winning run to score.

Kappel turned in a gutsy performance for Dickinson State in the circle, going all nine innings and allowing five earned runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking just one.

GAME 2

Two huge innings led Dickinson State to an early 11-1 lead as they held on to defeat Dakota State, 11-7, in game two on Sunday.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the DSU offense exploded in the second and third. Cassidy Venner started the second inning with a double, before a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout gave DSU two outs in the inning. Four consecutive hits, singles by Rhea Paiva, Alexa Kappel, and Hailey Enriquez, and a double by Ari Martinez pushed across six runs to give DSU a 6-1 lead. The offensive onslaught continued in the third as DSU got RBI knocks from Kamryn Kuntz, Martinez, Enriquez, and Dallis Mitchell to balloon their lead to 11-1.

Dakota State scored six runs across the fourth and fifth innings to make things interesting, but Martinez gave the Blue Hawks three strong innings in relief to seal the win. Mitchell earned the win in the circle going four innings while allowing six runs on eleven hits.