ABERDEEN, S.D.-- The University of Jamestown softball team advanced to the championship series of the NSAA postseason tournament, defeating Dakota State (S.D.) 3-2 and 4-0 Saturday.
In Saturday's first game, the Jimmies and Trojans were tied at 2 in the bottom of the sixth. Emma Keller (SR/Poulsbo, WA) came through with a tie-breaking RBI single, which ended up being the game-winning hit.
Kat Miska (FR/Pequot Lakes, MN) (14-1) had another dominating performance in the circle, striking out 10 Dakota State hitters while allowing two unearned runs.
Both teams traded zeroes on the scoreboard through the first four innings. Dakota State threatened in the top of the second inning, as Peyton Brokiewicz hit a two-out double and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Dakota State broke the stalemate in the top of the fifth, largely helped by a pair of UJ errors on the same play. Dakota State had runners on first and second when Nicole Stewart hit a single to advance the runners to second and third. However, an errant throw from the outfield allowed the runner from third to score, and a throw from home to get the runner moving from second to third went offline, causing a second run to score.
Sydney Prussia (FR/Detroit Lakes, MN) led off the Jimmie fifth with a solo home run to cut the lead to 2-1. Jamestown tied the game with a Dakota State error later in the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Miriah Yoder (JR/Devils Lake, ND) singled with two outs, then stole second base to get into scoring position. Keller singled up in the middle to score Yoder for a 3-2 lead.
Tatum Ronke doubled to start the seventh inning for Dakota State. UJ recorded two outs, then ended the game by throwing out Ronke on a stolen base attempt.
Keller finished 2-for-4 with a single, double, and RBI for Jamestown. Prussia added a home run and an RBI. Yoder, Meghan Ramage (JR/Grand Forks, ND) and Mikayla Frost (SO/Melba, ID) each had a hit.
Stewart, Brokiewicz, Ronke, Taylor Poe, and Audrey Kosman each tallied a hit for Dakota State.
Stefani Golli started and went five innings for DSU. She held Jamestown to two runs (one unearned) on four hits and struck out six. Xitlali Lopez (10-8) took the loss after giving up the go-ahead Jimmie run in the sixth inning.
Jamestown and Dakota State met one more time Saturday evening in the championship game of the Gold Bracket.
Brittany Rheault (SR/West Fargo, ND) (15-3) pitched a five-hit complete game shutout, striking out six, as the Jimmies won 4-0.
Tied at 0 entering the bottom of the third, Jamestown scored the first run of the game on an Emma Keller triple.
A Kassi Ward (FR/Olympia, WA) double and Meghan Ramage single extended the UJ lead to 3-0 in the fourth.
Miriah Yoder tripled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, then came home on Keller's ground out for the fourth and final Jimmie run.
Rheault gave up two hits in both the first and fifth innings, and one in the third. The Trojans did not advance a runner past third base.
Tifani Schorzman (SR/Coeur d'Alene, ID) was 2-for-3 with Keller, Ward, Ramage, and Yoder recording the other Jimmie hits.
Xitlali Lopez (10-9) went six innings for Dakota State, giving up four runs on six hits. She walked two and struck out one. Lopez, Melissa Krapf, Nicole Stewart, Audrey Kosman, and Tatum Ronke had the Trojan hits. Dakota State ends the season at 21-30.
Jamestown improves to 42-6, setting a new program record for wins in a season, and won their record-tying 18th straight game. The Jimmies and Dickinson State (N.D.) will meet in the best-of-three NSAA Championship series, with games Sunday at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
