DICKINSON, N.D. — Top-seeded Dickinson State opened the Frontier Conference Softball Tournament with a 10-2, five-inning win over No. 8 Dakota State on Thursday at Bravera Field.
Jessa Duggan went 3 for 3 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Blue Hawks. Dickinson State finished with 13 hits and scored in each of the final four innings.
Hope Fath earned the win, allowing two runs on one hit with three strikeouts in four plus innings. Ava Jahner worked a scoreless inning in relief.
The Blue Hawks broke the game open with four runs in the second inning. Viennah Meyer and Allyson Farrington started the inning with singles before Izzy Kelly and Duggan followed with hits. Stocktyn Stevenson added a two-run single to give Dickinson State a 4-0 lead.
Dickinson State added a run in the third, then Duggan led off the fourth with a solo home run to make it 6-0.
Dakota State's only hit came in the fifth when Quincy Hartley hit a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
The Blue Hawks answered in the bottom half. Farrington walked, Kelly singled and Duggan drove in another run with a single. Celina Wilharm drew a bases-loaded walk, Duggan scored on a wild pitch and Kiley Hubby ended the game with an RBI single.
Stevenson went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Hubby finished 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Kelly added two hits and two runs. Farrington reached three times and scored twice.
Dickinson State advances to face No. 4 Bismarck State at 1 p.m. Friday.
