Blue Hawks earn Friday sweep to open NSAA play

La Crosse, Wis. – Dickinson State got North Star Athletic Association play started on the right foot, as they swept Viterbo University, 10-6 and 6-2, on Friday in Wisconsin to start 2-0 in conference play.

Game One – DSU 10 VU 6

Dickinson State took a 2-0 in the second inning thanks to RBI hits from Jessa Duggan and HaiLeigh Davis, and added another in the top of the third when Kara Conway scored to make it 3-0 Blue Hawks early.

Viterbo immediately responded by scoring six runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead and chase starter Dallis Mitchell from the game. That was all the V-Hawks would get however, as Hope Fath and Reannan Butler combined to throw 4.1 innings of scoreless relief the rest of the way.

Trailing 6-3 in the fifth inning, the Blue Hawks finished the game on with seven unanswered runs, with one in the fifth, fourth in the sixth, and two more in the seventh to steal the road victory.

A Kiley Hubby two-run home run in the sixth inning was the go-ahead blow, as she scored Mitchell to cap the Blue Hawks four-run rally.

Game Two – DSU 6 VU 2

Dickinson State scored three runs in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie with three RBI doubles to clinch the Friday sweep.

After both teams scored two runs each in the fourth inning, DSU again rallied to take the lead with RBI doubles from Karissa Comer, Jai Maddox-Hernandez, and Bailey Hansen in the fifth inning for all the cushion they would need.

The Blue Hawks added a run in the seventh inning when Comer scored on a passed ball for some added insurance.

DSU took advantage of six Viterbo errors, while committing none of their own, as just one Blue Hawk run was earned on the day.

All seven DSU hits came from different players in the lineup, but the Blue Hawks constantly put the ball in play, striking out just twice in the victory.

Butler earned the win in relief after going 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of starter Allison Eldridge.