Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports and Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. – Dickinson State extended its dominance in North Star Athletic Association play with a doubleheader sweep of Dakota State on April 12 at Sanford Sports Complex, improving to 25-9 overall and 11-1 in the NSAA. Junior pitcher Hope Fath threw a five-inning no-hitter in game two, highlighting a dominant afternoon in which the Blue Hawks did not allow a single run across both contests. Dickinson State posted back-to-back run-rule victories by scores of 9-0 and 8-0.
In the opener, Dickinson State struck early and never looked back, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first. Ashlee Potter drew a walk to spark the offense, then stole second and came around to score on a single by Celina Wilharm. Brooke Lijewski followed with an RBI single, and Bailey Hansen added an RBI triple to right. Kiley Hubby and Cassidy Venner delivered run-scoring hits to cap the inning.
Wilharm highlighted the fourth inning with a two-run home run to right-center, her first of the season, to push the lead to 8-0. Wilharm finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Lijewski went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Potter, Hansen, Hubby, Conway and Venner each added hits as the Blue Hawks totaled 10 hits in the five-inning win.
Senior Alison Eldridge improved to 11-5 with four scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out four. Reannan Butler tossed a perfect fifth to seal the shutout. The Blue Hawk defense was flawless in the field, committing no errors.
In game two, Hope Fath tossed a five-inning no-hitter to earn her sixth win of the season. The junior from Dickinson walked one and struck out three while facing just 18 batters. The lone Dakota State baserunner was erased on a fielder's choice, and Fath worked efficiently, needing only 60 pitches.
The Blue Hawk offense again found its rhythm early, scoring three runs in the second. Lijewski singled to start the inning, and Hubby delivered an RBI double. HaiLeigh Davis drove in Hubby with a sacrifice fly, and Allyson Farrington knocked in Kara Conway to make it 3-0.
Dickinson State tacked on three more in the fourth. Conway tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a fielder's choice by Davis. Farrington followed with another RBI single, giving her a 2-for-2 performance with two RBIs. Conway, who reached base in all three of her plate appearances, added an RBI single in the fifth, and Jersi Morse and Jai Maddox-Hernandez scored to complete the 8-0 win.
The Blue Hawks tallied eight hits and drew four walks. Lijewski and Conway each had two hits, and Hubby drove in a pair of runs. Defensively, Dickinson State again played error-free softball.
With the sweep, Dickinson State has now won 12 of its last 13 games and remains atop the NSAA standings. The Blue Hawks have not allowed a run in five straight games.
