|Grand Rapids, MN|
|Thief River Falls, MN|
The Ladyjacks traveled to Minnesota to play against the Itasca Vikings and the Northland Pioneers. The Ladyjacks wanted to play against some fellow D3 opponents to see how they compared this year, and they did not disappoint.
The first two games against the Vikings, the Jacks did not know what to expect as they have never played against Itasca, but were ready for the challenge. In the first game, the Jacks were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the second, but the Vikings were quick to respond to tie it. In the fourth, the Jacks were able to gain the lead 4-2 in the fifth inning, but the Vikings got hot and added four runs to lead the Jacks 6-4. In the final inning, the Jacks were able to get one, but unable to make up that four run blunder in the fifth and lost 6-5.
In game two, the Jacks knew what they needed to do in order to get the win, and were ready to get one. In the second, the girls were able to go up 2-0, but the Vikings had a huge inning and scored six runs, giving them the 6-2 lead. The Jacks did not want a repeat of the previous game and hunkered down. After that inning, the Jacks poured on the runs and went on to score 10 more runs to the Vikings 1. A great defensive effort by the Jacks allowed them to come out with the 12-7 victory.
After splitting against Itasca, the Jacks traveled to Thief River Falls to play another double header against Northland.
Being another unfamiliar opponent, the Jacks knew that if they played how they did in their second game against Itasca, they would come out with two wins. Tascha Livingstone didn't allow a single hit as Ladyjacks defeated Northland 7-0 on Sunday. To get the final out Livingstone induced a groundout. In the first, DCB captured the lead in the first inning by an error which scored one run. In the sixth inning, the Ladyjacks scored four runs thanks to an error and a groundout by Tascha Livingstone. Tascha Livingstone earned the win for DCB by pitching all seven innings, surrendering zero runs, zero hits, and striking out 17. The Ladyjacks collected eight hits: Halima Khalifa and Victoria Tolle each collected multiple with two hits a piece.
In the final game, the Jacks wanted to finish strong and come out with a three game win on the weekend. The highlight of the game was when Rayla Marema collected five hits in five at bats, as in their 14-8 victory. Rayla Marema singled in the first, singled in the third, singled in the third, doubled in the fifth, and doubled in the sixth. Northland scored five runs in the first inning, but DCB still managed to pull out the victory. The big inning for Northland came thanks to a double by Emily Hestekind, a single by Avery Azure, a single by Megan Swedberg, a groundout by Lauren Carter, and a single by Miranda Opdahl. Northland captured the lead in the first inning by scoring one run from a double with one out in the first inning. The Ladyjacks took the lead for good with six runs in the third inning. In the third Tascha Livingstone doubled off of Northland driving in one run. Next, Northland uncorked a wild pitch, scoring one run, then Jacie Ceglowski doubled off of Northland's pitcher driving in one run. After that, there was another wild pitch, scoring two runs, and Rayla Marema singled to drive in one run. Tascha Livingstone earned the win for Dakota College by going five innings, giving up zero runs, one hit, striking out eight, and walking one. Nicole Frederiksen started the game for DCB and went two innings, surrendering eight runs, seven hits, striking out two, and walking one. The Ladyjacks collected 16 hits: Rayla Marema, Jacie Ceglowski, Lauren Mach, Sam Colman, Victoria Tolle, and Kennedy Sondrol each collected multiple hits throughout the game