HELENA, MT — Dickinson State split a doubleheader with Carroll College on Friday at Nelson Stadium, falling 5-4 in eight innings in the opener before responding with a 7-4 win in the nightcap.
In game one, Dickinson State (14-11) took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Stocktyn Stevenson scored on a Carroll error. The Saints answered in the second with a two-run home run from Carlee Smith to take a 2-1 advantage.
Carroll added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-1. Dickinson State cut into the deficit in the fourth when Brooke Lijewski doubled to center field, driving in Octavia Meyer.
The Blue Hawks tied the game in the sixth. Lijewski singled and later scored on a base hit by Viennah Meyer to make it 3-3. Carroll regained the lead in the bottom half with an RBI single.
Dickinson State answered again in the seventh. Celina Wilharm reached and eventually scored on a sequence of wild pitches and a throwing error to even the score at 4-4.
The game moved to extra innings, where Carroll secured the win in the bottom of the eighth. A leadoff double by Taylor Sayers set the table, and Kati Slater delivered a walk-off triple to left field.
Reagan King started in the circle for Dickinson State, allowing four runs over six innings. Reannan Butler took the loss in relief. Lijewski led the offense with two hits and an RBI.
In game two, Dickinson State responded with a strong offensive performance to earn the split.
The Blue Hawks opened the scoring in the first inning when Stevenson came around to score on a pass ball. Dickinson State broke the game open in the second inning, scoring five runs on six hits.
Lijewski started the inning with a solo home run to left field. Later in the frame, Allyson Farrington drove in a run with a single, and Wilharm capped the inning with a three-run home run to give Dickinson State a 6-0 lead.
Carroll answered in the third inning with four runs to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Saints used a combination of hits and a Dickinson State error to generate the rally, highlighted by a two-run sequence that included a triple and a single.
Dickinson State added an insurance run in the fifth inning. Kiley Hubby reached base and moved into scoring position before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Lijewski to extend the lead to 7-4.
Hope Fath earned the win in the circle, going the distance while allowing four runs on five hits. She recorded six strikeouts and worked out of multiple situations after the third inning to hold the lead.
Stevenson led Dickinson State with two hits and two runs scored, while Wilharm drove in three runs. Lijewski finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Dickinson State totaled 10 hits in the second game and did not issue a walk at the plate.
The Blue Hawks will look to build the momentum the rest of the week when they take on Carroll College, Saturday at 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
