SIOUX CENTER — Dickinson State opened the 2026 season Friday with a pair of victories, defeating Waldorf 25–1 before adding a 9–2 win over No. 17 Northwestern inside the ASB Dome.
The Blue Hawks wasted no time setting the tone in the opener against Waldorf, scoring eight runs in the first inning and never looking back. Dickinson State drew four walks and produced three hits in the frame, highlighted by a two-run single from Ashlee Potter and a two-run single from Stocktyn Stevenson that extended the early lead.
The offense continued to produce in the second inning, adding seven runs on six hits and taking advantage of an error. Ayaka Tajima delivered a two-run triple, and additional run-scoring hits from Jessa Duggan, Stevenson, and Celina Wilharm pushed the advantage to 15–0. Dickinson State added six runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth, finishing with 22 hits and seven walks in the run-rule victory.
Ashlee Potter paced the lineup with four hits and two RBIs, while Stevenson and Allyson Ferrington each drove in four runs. Tajima also contributed four RBIs as part of the balanced offensive effort.
In the circle, Hope Fath earned the win, allowing one unearned run on one hit over five innings while striking out eight. Waldorf's lone run came in the fifth inning following a walk and a passed ball that allowed a runner to score.
After a break, Dickinson State returned to face nationally ranked Northwestern and again jumped ahead early. Brooke Lijewski opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning after Stevenson doubled. The Blue Hawks broke the game open in the second inning, scoring six runs. Farrington delivered a two-run single, and Kiley Hubby added a bases-clearing double that capped the surge and built an 8–0 advantage.
Northwestern scored an unearned run in the third inning and added another in the fifth, but Dickinson State maintained control. The Blue Hawks manufactured an insurance run in the sixth when Stevenson singled, advanced on a sacrifice, and scored on Hubby's RBI single.
Reagan King went the distance in the circle, allowing two runs — one earned — on six hits with six strikeouts to secure the win. Offensively, Hubby drove in four runs, Lijewski finished with two RBIs, and Stevenson scored three times as Dickinson State totaled 10 hits.
Head coach Kristen Fleury praised her team's approach following the opening day sweep.
"Always an exciting day when its opening day! Proud of the team for showing up and competing! Traveling 8.5 hours, and then spending 10 hours at the field today isn't an easy task and they were locked in and energized the entire time! It's always tough coming off a high scoring game and taking a game break to come back and play the #17 team in country. Northwestern is a very well coached and disciplined team and I'm proud of how we responded. A few plays got away from us and we were far from perfect but it's a good stepping stone and start."
Dickinson State will continue its early season schedule this weekend against Briar Cliff University and Dordt University tomorrow.
