April 30, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. - Top-seed Dickinson State (N.D.) opened the 2026 Frontier Conference Softball Championship with a 10-2 win over eighth-seed Dakota State (S.D.) on Thursday at Bravera Field, using a four-run second inning and a four-run fifth to end the opening-round game early.
Dickinson State (37-12 overall record), winner of last 21 games, took control in the middle innings. After a scoreless first, the Blue Hawks broke through for four runs in the second. Jessa Duggan delivered an RBI single, and Stocktyn Stevenson added a two-run single as Dickinson State built a 4-0 lead. The home team added another run in the third, then pushed the margin to 6-0 in the fourth when Duggan hit a solo home run.
Dakota State (14-35 overall record) had managed only one hit through the first four innings, but the Trojans showed life in the top of the fifth. Quincy Hartley connected for a two-run home run, trimming the deficit to 6-2 and accounting for both Dakota State runs. Hartley finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while the Trojans drew four walks but could not generate enough sustained offense against Dickinson State's pitching staff.
Dickinson State answered immediately in the bottom half of the fifth. Kiley Hubby drove in a run with a single, and the Blue Hawks kept pressure on with additional runs scoring on a walk and a wild pitch during a four-run frame that closed out the game at 10-2.
The Bkue Hawks finished with 13 hits and five walks, compared with one hit for Dakota State.
Duggan led Dickinson State's lineup by going 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBIs and a home run. Stevenson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Izzy Kelly added two hits, two runs and a stolen base. In the circle, Hope Fath (W, 12-1) worked 4.0 innings, allowing one hit and two earned runs while striking out three before leaving in the fifth. Dakota State used Maycee Bricker (L, 9-12) Makenna McGee and relievers over 4 1/3 innings.
Dickinson State moves on to the winner's bracket Friday at 1 p.m. (Mountain Time) versus No. 4 seed Bismarck State (N.D.).
Dakota State faces elimination game versus No. 5 seed Carroll (Mont.) Friday morning at 9 a.m. (MT).