Pitching is the key in North Dakota

     Madison, SD 4/16/07 - The Dakota State University Softball team traveled to Minot, ND this weekend to take on the top ranked team in the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC), the Beavers of Minot State University. The Trojans opened the four game set by handing the Beavers only their second conference loss of the year, an impressive 7-1 win for the Trojans.

      In the first game of the series the Trojans pounded out eight hits, while Freshman Dakota Novotny scattered five hits allowing just one run to collect her seventh win of the year. The rest of the weekend wasn't as kind for the Trojans as Minot State would win the next three games 3-0, 2-0, and 8-5, to improve their conference record to 6-2.

     The Beavers were powered by the pitching of Whitney Friesen who in the final three games of the series threw 16 innings allowing just seven hits, while striking out 18 and allowing no runs. Friesen in the third game of the series carried a no-hitter through 6 2/3 until senior third baseman Jessie Klingenberg broke up the bid for the "No-No" with a single up the middle. The Trojans weren't to be outdone in the circle on day two as the Trojan pitching staff allowed just two earned runs on the day while scattering 13 hits. Junior Sara Gibson also carried a no-hitter through 4 2/3 in the last game of the series until she gave up a single that fell just behind third base.

     "I was very pleased with the way our pitching staff performed this weekend, we proved that we are getting stronger, and have really done a good job of hitting our spots. Overall I thought we played well this weekend with the exception of one inning in the fourth game where we kicked the ball around and allowed Minot to get back into the game and eventually take the lead." stated head coach Ken Prorok.

   The Trojans are in action again on Wednesday as the host conference foe Mayville State University first pitch is set for 3:00 pm at the Thue softball complex.