May 1, 2026

DICKINSON, N.D. - No. 5 seed Carroll (Mont.) stayed alive in the 2026 Frontier Conference Softball Championship on Friday morning, defeating No. 8 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 7-4 in a neutral-site loser-out game at Bravera Field.

Carroll (19-19 overall record) used a four-run second inning to seize control, then added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth to withstand Dakota State’s comeback bid. The Trojans end their season with 14-36 overall record.

The decisive early swing came from Madison Walker, who cleared the bases with a home run in the second inning and finished with four RBIs. The Fighting Saints piled up 13 hits overall, with Kati Slater adding a 3-for-4 day and three RBIs.

Slater drove in two more runs in the fourth on a single that was followed by a Dakota State error, stretching the lead to 6-3, then added another RBI single in the sixth to make it 7-3.

Dakota State answered after falling behind 4-0. Alexis Resseguie helped spark the third inning with a double, and Hannah McFarland followed with a two-run double to center that cut the deficit to one. Emmalynn Rabe then delivered an RBI single to bring Dakota State within 4-3.

McFarland struck again in the seventh with another RBI double, giving her three RBIs on the day, but Dakota State could not get the tying run to the plate.

CC's pitcher McKinley Ermshar (W, 6-9) went the distance, allowing four runs on eight hits over seven innings. She struck out five and walked one over 100 pitches.

DSU's starter Maycee Bricker (L, 9-12) also worked all seven innings, striking out five and walking one, but she was charged with seven runs, five earned, on 13 hits over 105 pitches.

Carroll finished with seven runs, 13 hits and no errors, while Dakota State had four runs, eight hits and one error. Dakota State left three runners on base, and Carroll stranded five.

The Saints wait for the loser of Valley City State (N.D.)-Providence (Mont.) game Friday evening at 7 p.m. (MT).