MINOT, N.D. – Dickinson State scored three runs in the first inning and held on for a 3-2 win over Minot State University in the first championship game of the Dakota Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Saturday at South Hill Complex.

The Blue Hawks forced a second championship game for the second straight season against the Beavers in the DAC postseason tournament. Last year, MSU was able to bounce back in the second championship to win the conference tournament title. The Beavers will have second chance to defend their tournament title Sunday at Noon at South Hill.

Dickinson State (30-12) jumped on MSU starter Jen Dixon (Fr., P, Brandon, Manitoba) for three runs in the first inning. Vanessa Adame opened the game with a solo home run to straightaway center to stake DSU to a 1-0 lead. The Blue Hawks tacked on two more – one unearned – to take the 3-0 lead.

The Beavers (29-9) battled back in the third as Dixon tried to help her own cause taking Dickinson starter Sara Jane Webster yard for a two-run home run in the bottom of the third.

But both pitchers made sure the score at the end of the third would stand. Webster gave up seven hits and two runs, while striking out seven to earn the win. Dixon was nearly as good, pitching a complete game as well, giving up just the three first-inning runs and three total hits while striking out five in the loss.

Adame, Charnel Zetsch and Ikea Mauldin all finished with hits and all had one RBI in the game. Zetsch finished with a double and scored a run for the Blue Hawks.

MSU got two hits apiece from Kyla Thiesen (Jr., 2B, Brandon, Manitoba) and Deanna Mitchell (Jr., 1B, Portage, Manitoba). Leah Matthewson (So., OF, Regina, Saskatchewan) and Colleen Bertrand (Fr., C, Langley, British Columbia) also had a hit for the Beavers.

The Saturday championship game marked the fourth straight season the two teams played for the DAC postseason title. Neither team reached the championship in 2008 as the tournament was canceled due to weather.