DSU softball drops a pair of close games in Iowa

Sioux Center, Iowa – Dickinson State fell in a pair of games to open a four-game weekend at the American State Bank Dome Classic in Iowa. The Blue Hawks fell to the College of Saint Mary, 5-2, in game one before falling 3-2 to #15 Northwestern (IA) in game two.

Game One – CSM 5 DSU 2

Dickinson State got RBI base hits from Dallis Mitchell and Jai Maddox-Hernandez, but an early 4-0 hole was too much to overcome as the Blue Hawks fell in their first game.

After getting down 4-0 through two and a half innings thanks to a fielder's choice and a pair of home runs, the Blue Hawks got a run back when Mitchell singled home HaiLeigh Davis with one out. DSU then had runners on second and third, threatening to close the gap further, but CSM escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

A two-out RBI single from Maddox-Hernandez in the sixth inning scored Jessa Dugan, making it 5-2 CSM, but the Blue Hawks didn't threaten again as the Flames slammed the door for the win.

Game Two – #15 NWC 3 DSU 2

Dickinson State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI double from Mitchell and a bases-loaded walk by Kara Conway, but Northwestern answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it 2-2 after one inning.

Both teams put up zeros over the next three innings, but in the fifth inning NWC finally broke through, scoring on a two-out double to take the 3-2 advantage.

A leadoff double by Davis started the seventh inning for DSU, and pinch runner Dugan stole third base, but the Blue Hawks went strikeout, lineout, walk, pop out, to strand the tying run at third base as the Red Raiders pulled off the miracle escape.

Cassy Loa went 2-3 with a walk to lead the DSU offense, while Mitchell went 6 innings allowing 3 runs on six hits, with one strikeout and three walks to take the tough loss.