DICKINSON — The Dickinson State Blue Hawks swept a North Star Athletic Association doubleheader from Dakota State on Friday afternoon, recording back-to-back shutout victories at the Sanford Sports Complex to improve to 23-9 overall and 9-1 in conference play. Behind a perfect game in the opener and another dominant outing in Game 2, the Blue Hawks extended their win streak to five.
In the first game, senior pitcher Alison Eldridge threw a five-inning perfect game in an 8-0 run-rule win. Eldridge retired all 15 batters she faced, striking out 6 and needing just 58 pitches to complete the first perfect game of her collegiate career. She improved to 10-5 on the season while lowering her ERA and adding to her growing list of dominant outings in 2025.
Dickinson State's offense provided early run support, plating five in the bottom of the first. Freshman center fielder Allyson Farrington led off with a single and stole second before scoring on a two-run single by junior catcher Brooke Lijewski . Senior first baseman Bailey Hansen followed with an RBI single, and junior third baseman Kiley Hubby doubled to bring in another. Senior left fielder Cassidy Venner added a fifth run with a double to left center, driving home Hubby.
The Blue Hawks continued to add on with a two-run third inning. After a leadoff single by Hansen, Hubby homered to left center to push the lead to 7-0. In the fourth, sophomore second baseman Celina Wilharm tripled to left and scored on Lijewski's groundout to second, giving DSU an eight-run cushion.
Eldridge handled the rest, recording seven groundouts and two flyouts in addition to her six strikeouts. No Dakota State player reached base, and Dickinson State committed no errors behind her. Hansen went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, while Hubby was 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and three RBIs. Lijewski drove in three runs, and Wilharm added two hits and two runs scored. The Blue Hawks totaled 11 hits and struck out just twice in the win.
In the second game, freshman Ava Jahner tossed a six-inning three-hit shutout as Dickinson State rolled to another 8-0 win. Jahner walked two and struck out four to improve to 7-1, allowing only four Dakota State baserunners while facing 22 batters. It marked DSU's 11th shutout of the season and second of the day.
Lijewski again sparked the offense with a solo home run in the second inning. Hansen followed with a single, and Hubby delivered an RBI double to give the Blue Hawks a 2-0 lead. Junior right fielder Ashlee Potter extended the lead in the third with a solo home run to right, her first of the season.
DSU added another in the fourth after Hubby walked and eventually scored on a groundout by senior catcher HaiLeigh Davis . In the fifth, Potter singled and stole second before scoring on a two-out double by Hansen. Jahner allowed only one baserunner in the bottom half to maintain the 5-0 advantage.
The Blue Hawks closed out the game with a three-run sixth inning. Senior shortstop Kara Conway singled and moved up to third on a Dakota State error. Freshman pinch runner Morgan Koffler scored on a wild pitch, and Davis walked before scoring on another errant pitch. Farrington capped the scoring with an RBI single to left, bringing home Conway.
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Potter went 2-for-2 with a home run, single, two runs, and a stolen base. Hansen finished with two hits, a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Lijewski added two more hits and an RBI, and Hubby tallied a double, RBI, and two runs. Farrington and Davis each drove in a run, while Wilharm provided steady defense at second base.
Dickinson State totaled nine hits in the second game and drew three walks. The Blue Hawks stole two bases and took advantage of three wild pitches to extend innings and manufacture runs. Jahner, like Eldridge in Game 1, benefitted from an error-free defense and strong infield play throughout the contest.
The Blue Hawks will conclude the series against Dakota State on Saturday, April 12.
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