March 31, 2018
RALSTON, Neb. – Presentation (S.D.) racked up a total of 42 runs Sunday afternoon at Orval Smith Field, completing the North Star Athletic Association Baseball four-game series sweep over Dakota State (S.D.). The Saints won the first game by the score of 23-12 and closed out the weekend series with a 19-0 shutout over the Trojans.
Dakota State dropped their overall record to 0-17 and 0-7 record in league play. Presentation extended their winning streak to eight games, raising their overall record to 17-9 and 8-0 record in NSAA conference games.
The Trojans step aside their North Star conference play as they continue their action on the road Wednesday. DSU visits Morningside (Iowa) in a non-conference doubleheader at Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City, Iowa. First game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
Game 1 – Presentation (S.D.) 23, Dakota State (S.D.) 12 – FINAL
Presentation scored at least a run in eight out of nine innings in the first game of the doubleheader. Dakota State scored from the fourth through the eighth innings.
The Saints opened up with a run scored in the first inning. Jesse Spangler was hit-by-pitch to start the game. Cameron Guevara followed up with a single and advanced Spangler to third base. Anthony Guzman recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Spangler to give PC a 1-0 lead.
Presentation exploded for six runs in the top second frame to widen their lead to 7-0.
Max Christoff hit a lead-off home run in the top third inning to put Saints up 8-0. Zane Hunt followed up with a single. He advanced to second after DSU's wild pitch. Hunt advanced to third base after Marcus Warscher's fly-out to right field. Blake Crain recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Hunt to make it 9-0 in favor of PC.
Christoff hit his second home run of the game, a 2-run home run to balloon Presentation's lead to 11-0.
Dakota State ended their scoring drought after plating four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning, thanks to three consecutive walks by Justin Odlum, Micah DeHarty and Adrian Butrimas. Jalen Boyd recorded an RBI walk to score Odlum for Trojans' first run of the game (DSU trailed 11-1).
Smith Kemper followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field as Trojans cut their deficit to 11-2 in the bottom fourth, allowing DeHarty to score caused by PC fielder's obstruction at the home plate. Samuel Drummond added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with one out.
Connor Nagel produced a 2-RBI single to score Christian Sanchez (courtesy runner for Butrimas) and Boyd as Dakota State trailed 11-4 in the fourth inning.
Spangler hit a 3-run home run in the top fifth inning to extend Presentation's lead to 14-4.
Odlum blasted a solo home run in the bottom half of the fifth inning as the Trojans reduced PC's lead to 14-5.
Both teams scored three times in the sixth inning as Presentation maintains a 17-8 lead.
Eric Hernandez had an RBI walk in the top seventh to give the Saints an 18-8 lead.
Dakota State extended the game into the eighth inning after scoring twice in the bottom seventh. Marcos Alvarez reached on base by a walk. Luke Fleck followed up with a single and advanced Alvarez to second base. Alec Gannon reached on base by a fielder's choice, advancing Alvarez to third base (Fleck was forced out on second base).
Zach Sutera produced an RBI fielder's choice to score Alvarez as DSU trailed 18-9 with two outs in the bottom seventh. Nagel followed up with an RBI double to score Sutera as the Trojans trimmed PC's lead to 18-10.
The Saints did not score in the top eighth inning. The Trojans scored twice in the bottom half to reduce Presentation's lead to 18-12.
PC scored five times in the final inning and secured the victory over DSU.
The Saints recorded 12 hits in the game compared to the Trojans eight hits. A total of 27 walks were registered in the game (PC reached on base by a walk 15 times compared to DSU 12 walks). Presentation left 14 runners on base compared to Dakota State 11 runners left on base.
Nagel finished the game by going 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single, two walks and drove in three runs for Dakota State. Odlum added a home run, single, two walks and two RBIs. Fleck, Gannon, Fabian Boria and Hayden Klibbe each recorded a hit. Boria had two RBIs. Alvarez and Sutera each collected an RBI.
Christoff had two home runs and tallied three RBIs in the game for Presentation. Spangler added a home run, three runs and four RBIs. Guevara, Hunt and Crain each had a hit and an RBI. Guzman had a home run and three RBIs. Marcus Warscher recorded a single and two RBIs. Hunt swiped two bases. Crain had a stolen base.
Dakota State used six different pitchers in the game—Hunter Hazen, Kyle Grant, Kyle Gosh, Tristan Smith, Jacob Yaeger and Trae Ramsey. Hazen was tabbed the loss after giving up seven runs (three unearned) on two hits in the first 1 2/3 innings.
Connor Perry started the game on the pitching mound for Presentation. He worked for 3 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on two hits. He issued eight walks to DSU and recorded six strikeouts. KC Proctor (W, 3-1) registered the win after pitching 2 1/3 innings in relief. He gave up four runs (one unearned) on four hits. Ryan Strickland tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up four runs on two hits. Colin Crandall closed the game by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Game 2 – Presentation (S.D.) 19, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL
Presentation raced to a 14-0 lead after the first three innings in the four-game series finale and never looked back with a 19-0 shutout victory over Dakota State.
The Saints scored five runs in the opening inning for a 5-0 lead, highlighted by a pair of RBI walks by Johnny Radomskiy and Christoff, an RBI single by Hunt and Hernandez's RBI sacrifice fly.
Spangler led off the top second inning with a solo home run for 6-0 PC lead. Radomskiy added an RBI double to make it 7-0 lead for the Saints. Christoff blasted a 3-run home run to expand Presentation's lead to 10-0.
Guzman hit a grand slam to widen PC's lead to 14-0 in the top third inning.
Presentation scored another five runs in the sixth inning to make it 19-0 lead.
Dyshawn Proudlove had a double for Dakota State. Boyd, Drummond and Alvarez each recorded a single. Nagel and Fleck each reached on base by a walk.
Spangler, Guzman and Christoff each hit a home run and produced a combined 10 RBIs for Presentation. Spangler, Crain, Hunt and Rodomskiy each added a double. Hunt, Hernandez and Radomskiy each tallied two RBIs.
PC outhit DSU 15-4 in the game. The Saints left ten runners on base compared to the Trojans six runners.
Dakota State used eight pitchers in the game, with DeHarty (L, 0-2) recording the loss. Andrew Dayton, Tyler Stading, Ramsey, Trey Randel, Hazen, Sanchez and Kyle Grant pitched for DSU.
Christoff (W, 3-1) earned the victory after pitching six innings on the pitching mound for Presentation. He limited the Trojans to four hits and struck out nine batters. Giovanni Arieta tossed a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
