February 14, 2018
SALINA, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) played in their 2018 season opener Wednesday afternoon at Matson Field, visiting Kansas Wesleyan of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC). The Coyotes rolled to a 14-2 game one victory, and mounted a comeback in the second game with an 11-10 victory in eight innings to complete a sweep over the Trojans.
DSU fell to 0-2 overall record. Kansas Wesleyan lifted their overall record to 9-3.
Game 1 – Kansas Wesleyan 14, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
Kansas Wesleyan scored at least a run in every inning in the first game of the doubleheader. The Coyotes scored once in each of the first three innings for a 3-0 lead. KWU scored three times in the fourth and six times in the fifth inning to widen their lead to 12-0.
Dakota State broke their scoring drought with two runs scored in the top sixth frame. Jordan Hofer reached safely on base by KWU's defensive error and advanced to second base. He advanced to third base after Jalen Boyd's ground out to short shop. Smith Kemper reached on base by a walk.
Connor Nagel followed up with an RBI single to score Hofer for DSU's first run of the game (DSU trailed 12-1 and advanced Kemper to third base). Justin Odlum added an RBI single to score Kemper as the Trojans cut Coyotes' lead to 12-2.
KWU answered with two runs in the bottom sixth frame to extend their lead to 14-2.
Nagel and Odlun each had a hit and an RBI for the Trojans. Hayden Klibbe added a hit. Zach Sutera recorded a single and reached on base by a walk.
Adriel Guzman went 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, two singles and drove in three runs for Kansas Wesleyan. Ricky Hockett added a home run, two singles and two RBIs. Russ McClung had a home run, single and an RBI. Rex Campbell and Tanner Nelson each registered a hit and two RBIs.
KWU outhit DSU 11-4 in the game. The Trojans left five runners on base compared to the Coyotes four runners left on base.
Garrison Collier (L, 0-1) took the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. He tossed 4 2/3 innings and allowed nine runs (one unearned) on eight hits. He struck out five Coyotes batters. Trae Ramsey came in the bottom fifth inning and gave up three runs on one hit. Kyle Grant worked for 1 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on two hits.
Travis Schnoor (W, 2-1) earned the victory after pitching five innings for KWU. He limited the Trojans to two hits and recorded four strikeouts. Brandon Johnson worked in the sixth inning and allowed two runs (one unearned) on two hits. Zach Lehman tossed a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
Game 2 – Kansas Wesleyan 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 10 – FINAL/8 innings
Dakota State could not hold on to their 9-3 lead in the second game of the doubleheader, where Kansas Wesleyan exploded for six runs in the bottom sixth inning. The Trojans regained their lead in the extra inning, but could not stop Coyotes' outburst for an 11-10 eight-inning victory.
DSU plated four runs in the opening game to earn the first lead of the game. Boyd hit a single with one out. Kemper followed up with a double to advance Boyd to third base. Nagel produced an RBI ground out to score Boyd to give DSU a 1-0 lead (Kemper advanced to third base).
Odlun reached on base caused by KWU's defensive miscue, allowing Kemper to score to extend DSU's lead to 2-0. Marcos Alvarez blasted a 2-run home run as the Trojans' lead grew to 4-0 in the first inning.
Kansas Wesleyan scored once in the bottom half of the first frame, thanks to a lead-off double by Campbell. He advanced to third base after DSU's wild pitch. Guzman recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Campbell as DSU's lead was reduced to 4-1.
Zach Sutera smashed his first career collegiate home run to right field, hitting a 2-run home run to give Trojans a 6-1 lead in the top third inning.
KWU scored once in the bottom third to cut DSU's lead to 6-2.
Dakota State added a run in the top fourth frame. Samuel Drummond led off with a walk. He swiped to second base. Hofer hit a double and advanced Drummond to third base. Boyd produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Drummond for 7-2 DSU lead.
The Coyotes scored once in the bottom fourth to trim Trojans' lead to 7-3.
Drummond led off the top sixth with a single for DSU. Hofer followed up with a walk and advanced Drummond to second base. Boyd hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Drummond to third and Hofer to second. Connor Nagel hit a 2-RBI single with two outs to score Drummond and Hofer as the Trojans expanded their lead to 9-3.
After DSU's defense recorded a double play to kick off the bottom sixth inning, Kansas Wesleyan roared back by scoring six unanswered runs to tie the game at 9-9.
Dakota State and Kansas Wesleyan were not able to score in the seventh inning, as the game was extended into extra innings.
Drummond drilled a double to start the top eighth inning for the Trojans. He advanced to third base after Hofer's ground out to third. Boyd recorded an RBI sacrifice bunt squeeze to score Drummond as DSU regained their lead at 10-9.
Kansas Wesleyan started the bottom half of the eighth inning with three consecutive batters reaching safely on base. With bases loaded and no out situation, Craig Bettis registered an RBI walk as the Coyotes tied the game at 10-10.
Austin Cross followed up with an RBI single as KWU's completed a comeback for an 11-10 victory over DSU.
Both teams tallied 12 hits in the game.
Sutera went 2-of-4 at the plate with a home run, single and drove in two runs for DSU. Alvarez added a home run and collected two RBIs. Nagel had a hit and recorded a game-high three RBIs. Boyd had two hits and two RBIs. Drummond and Odlun each had a double and single. Drummond scored three times. Hofer and Kemper each had a double.
Sutera, Drummond and Hofer each swiped one base.
Zach Lehman led the Coyotes with three singles and scored three times. Campbell, Nelson and Austin Cross each registered two hits. Dalton Whitaker and Bettis each had two RBIs.
Kansas Wesleyan left 13 runners on base compared to Dakota State five runners left on base.
Adam Berryhill started the game on the pitching mound for the Trojans. He tossed three innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He registered four strikeouts. Nagel worked 2 2/3 innings in relief, giving up four runs on one hit. Trey Randel came in the sixth inning and gave up two runs on two hits. Dyshawn Proudlove (L, 0-1) took the loss after pitching 1 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits.
Parker Reynoso pitched the first 2 1/3 innings for the Coyotes. He gave up five runs (three unearned) on six hits. Kyle Robinson worked for one inning in relief and allowed two runs on two hits. Ryan Cantrell gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings of work. Nikolas Swink tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief. Hockett (W, 1-0) earned the victory after working in the eighth inning, despite giving up a run on one hit.
Dakota State swings back in action next weekend. The Trojans head to Crete, Neb. for a four-game series with Doane (Neb.). The series will be held at Jose M. and Elizabeth Ledon Baseball Complex on the east end of Doane's campus.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
