DICKINSON, N.D. — With home-field advantage and a balanced lineup, the Dickinson State University softball team enters the 2025 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Postseason Tournament looking to make a run at the conference crown. The Blue Hawks will host the tournament for the third consecutive year at Bravera Field on the Sanford Sports Complex, with play scheduled for May 1-4.
Dickinson State (28-14 overall, 14-6 NSAA) earned the No. 2 seed after a strong regular season. The Blue Hawks are set to open tournament action on Friday at 2 p.m. (MT) against the winner of Thursday's first-round game between No. 3 Bellevue and No. 6 Dakota State.
The NSAA tournament champion will claim the league's automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, slated for May 12-15 at campus sites.
Balanced Attack Leads the Way
Leading the offensive charge for the Blue Hawks is Celina Wilharm, who has delivered a standout season at the plate with a .460 batting average, 63 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs, and 37 RBIs. Wilharm's consistency has helped fuel a DiSU offense that ranks among the league's best.
Brooke Lijewski has also been a key contributor, batting .386 with 51 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs, and a team-high 43 RBIs. Rounding out the top hitters is HaiLeigh Davis, who enters the tournament with a .395 average, 30 hits, four doubles, and nine RBIs.
As a team, the Blue Hawks boast a .334 batting average, with 217 RBIs, 19 home runs, and 80 stolen bases — a well-rounded offensive attack capable of manufacturing runs in multiple ways.
Reliable Arms, Solid Defense
In the circle, Dickinson State leans on its experienced pitching staff led by Alison Eldridge, who holds a 12-8 record with a 2.80 ERA and 91 strikeouts across 125 innings. Ava Jahner (9-1, 3.07 ERA) and Hope Fath (6-3, 4.87 ERA) provide valuable depth and versatility for the Blue Hawks' postseason rotation.
Dickinson State's pitching staff enters the tournament with a combined 3.32 ERA while limiting opponents to a .281 batting average. The defense has been steady all season, posting a .970 fielding percentage.
Prepared for the Postseason Test
The Blue Hawks look to bounce back from a competitive series against top-seeded Jamestown to close the regular season. With key sweeps over Mayville State and Dakota State and a series win over Bellevue, Dickinson State has proven its ability to compete against the NSAA field.
With the support of the home crowd and experience in close games throughout the year, the Blue Hawks are ready to embrace the challenge of tournament play.
Tournament Coverage
All tournament games will be streamed live with stats and updates available at dsubluehawks.com. The NSAA Championship is set for Sunday at 12 p.m. (MT), with an "if necessary" game to follow.
