DICKINSON, N.D. – The Dickinson State softball team dropped a pair of games to open North Star Conference action. The Blue Hawks fell 9-5 in game one and 17-16 in game two. With the losses, the Blue Hawks move to 8-16 overall and 0-2 in North Star action.

Game One: Dickinson State 5, Valley City State University 9

After three scoreless innings to start game one, Dickinson State got on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth. Ari Martinez connected for a lead-off single to right field and advanced into scoring position after an Emilie Sickler sacrifice on the next at-bat. Kara Conway notched her first RBI after a double to left field for the early 1-0 lead. However, the Vikings responded in the bottom of the inning with a five-run, three-hit inning to take the four-run lead. In the top of the fifth, DSU responded with a three-run inning to cut the Vikings' lead back down to one. After a strike-out to start the inning, Rhea Paiva singled on a ground ball to third base and advanced to second on a stolen base. With two outs, Dallis Mitchell doubled on a ball to deep left field to score Paiva. Mitchell crossed home plate on the next at-bat after Ari Martinez reached base on an error by VCSU's first baseman. After a Hailey Enriquez single to center field and a Kara Conway walk, the Blue Hawks notched their third run of the inning after Gianna Monteleone drew a bases load walk to score Martinez.

However, the Vikings responded again in the bottom of the inning with three runs to push their lead back up to four (8-4). The final run of the game for the Blue Hawks came in the sixth inning after a Dallis Mitchell RBI single to left field to score Katelyn Kubitschek – who reached base on a triple to right field. Unable to get anything offensively going during the final inning, the Blue Hawks drop their first North Star Conference game 9-5.

From the Box Score –

Dallis Mitchell, Ari Martinez, and Hailey Enriquez led the team in hits with two each. The final three hits came off the bats of Katelyn Kubitschek, Kara Conway, and Rhea Paiva. Mitchell connected for two RBIs in the game, while Emilie Sickler, Kubitschek, Mitchell, Martinez, and Paiva crossed the plate for the five runs of the game.

From the mound, Dallis Mitchell suffered the loss as she let up nine runs (4ER) off eight hits in six innings pitched. Mitchell added five strikeouts in 27 batters faced.

Game Two: Dickinson State 16, Valley City State 17

DSU opened the scoring in the first inning after a Hailey Enriquez RBI single to the pitcher to score the speedy Dallis Mitchell. After a two-run inning by the Vikings, DSU regained the lead in the second inning after a four-run, one-hit inning. After one out, Paige Callahan reached base on a walk and advanced into scoring position after an Emilie Sickler sacrifice to second base – in which Sickler reached base on an error by the Vikings' second baseman on the same play. After a walk by Rhea Paiva and the bases loaded, Dallis Mitchell hit a sacrifice flu to left field to score Callahan. On the next at-bat, Ari Martinez went yard for a three-run bomb over the centerfield fence to take the 5-2 lead. Although the Vikings responded with a three-run inning to tie things at 5-5, DSU's biggest inning came during the third inning as the Blue Hawks poured in five runs to retake the lead once again, 10-5.

After a one-run inning by VCSU to cut the lead down to four, DSU tagged on another three runs in the top of the fourth to take the 13-6 lead. After a groundout on the first at-bat, Callahan and Sickler reached base on back-to-back walks. On the next at-bat, Rhea Paiva connected for an RBI double to left field to score Callahan. With two outs, Ari Martinez extended the Blue Hawk lead by two more runs after a single to left field to score Sickler and Paiva for the 13-6 lead.

Once again, VSCU responded against DSU's offense-filled inning with a five-run inning of their own to cut the lead down to two, 13-11. After a scoreless top of the fifth inning for the Blue Hawks, the Vikings gained their first lead since the first inning after hitting back-to-back homeruns to take the 14-13 lead.

However, due to darkness setting in, the game would be stopped and resumed on Monday afternoon before the second day of double-headers between both teams.

After a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, DSU regained their lead as they tagged on three runs in the seventh inning. Katelyn Kubitschek reached base on an error by the VCSU pitcher and advanced to second on a stolen base. After a pop-out for the first out and a Kennedy Kuntz walk, the bases would be loaded after Callahan singled to right field to load the bases. However, Kubitschek would score on the same play after an error by the VCSU catcher. After both runners advancing on the same error, Kuntz would touch home plate for the second run of the inning after a VCSU passed ball. The final run came off the bat of Emilie Sickler as she sacrificed to left field to score Callahan.

Despite taking the 16-14 lead in the final inning, VCSU capitalized on walks and a DSU error to come away with the high-scoring win during the second game of the series.

From the Box Score –

Of the team's 13 hits in the loss, three Blue Hawks connected for multiple hits in the game with Ari Martinez leading the way with four. Rhea Paiva and Dallis Mitchell connected for two a piece, while Kara Conway, Hailey Enriquez, Katelyn Kubitschek, Paige Callahan, and Emilie Sickler rounded out the final five hits. Aside from their 13-hit day, the Blue Hawks stayed disciplined at the plate and drew 12 walks, while only striking out three times.

From the mound, Ari Martinez suffered the loss for the Blue Hawks as she let up 17 runs – with only six being earned – off 14 hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Arjana Eilers threw for two innings and let up two runs and striking out two.