BELLEVUE, NE.— Dickinson State completed a doubleheader sweep of Bellevue on Friday, securing the Frontier Conference Championship and locking in the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Frontier Conference Tournament.
The Blue Hawks improved to 34-12 overall with a 2-1 victory in game one followed by a 9-2 win in game two. Bellevue dropped to 20-25 on the season.
Game 1: DSU: 2; BU:1
Dickinson State used timely hitting and strong pitching throughout the day to control both contests. In the opener, the Blue Hawks plated single runs in the first and fifth innings to edge Bellevue, 2-1. Dickinson State finished with six hits, while Bellevue recorded seven.
After scoring in the first inning, Dickinson State regained the lead in the fifth. Bellevue's lone run came in the fourth inning. The Blue Hawks' pitching staff limited damage throughout, stranding multiple runners and working out of key situations late.
Reagan King earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game. She allowed one run on seven hits while recording five strikeouts.
Game 2: DSU: 9; BU: 2
In game two, Dickinson State broke things open with a four-run third inning and added insurance late to secure a 9-2 victory. The Blue Hawks totaled 13 hits and did not commit an error.
Dickinson State took control early, building a 4-0 lead through three innings. Bellevue answered with two runs in the third, but the Blue Hawks responded with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Several Blue Hawks contributed offensively in the finale, with multiple players recording hits as part of the 13-hit performance. Dickinson State's lineup consistently applied pressure, producing runs in four different innings.
Hope Fath started in the circle in game two and earned the win, allowing two runs over five innings. Reannan Butler closed the game, holding Bellevue scoreless over the final two frames.
Defensively, Dickinson State played clean softball in the second game and limited Bellevue to seven hits.
With the sweep, Dickinson State clinched the Frontier Conference regular season title outright. The Blue Hawks will enter the Frontier Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed, positioning themselves for a strong postseason run.
The team has now won 18 consecutive games, with two remaining on Saturday, heading into tournament play and continues to show consistency on both sides of the ball.
"Our team is playing well at the right time. We have a group that doesn't care who gets the recognition—they just want to win for each other rather than themselves. It's been really fun to watch and be a part of. I'm proud of them and excited to see what's next for them," said head coach Kristen Fleury.
Dickinson State will return to action next week at the Frontier Conference Tournament in Dickinson, N.D. Blue Hawks will play at 12:30PM against the #8 seed.
