April 22, 2018

DICKINSON, N.D. – Connor Nagel tossed a complete game Sunday afternoon as Dakota State (S.D.) propelled to a 5-2 North Star Athletic Association Baseball conference victory over Dickinson State (N.D.) at Astoria Field.  The Trojans also earned a 9-0 victory in the four-game series finale, where the Blue Hawks had to forfeit the game due to shortage of players on the team.

Dakota State, which bolstered their chances to secure a spot in the North Star conference postseason tournament in May, improved to 4-23 overall record and 4-13 record in league play.  Dickinson State, who played their last home game in their baseball program history Sunday, fell to 3-26 overall record and 2-17 NSAA conference record.

It was the first doubleheader sweep this season for the Trojans, the first time since May 1, 2016 that DaSU earned a doubleheader sweep (versus Waldorf, Iowa at Flynn Field).

The Blue Hawks grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom first inning.  Nate Demarais led off with a single.  He advanced to second base after a sacrifice bunt by Karson Hanosky.  A passed ball by the Trojans advanced Demarais to third base, and scored home followed by DaSU's wild pitch for DiSU 1-0 lead.

Dakota State snapped their scoreless drought with a pair of runs in the top fifth inning.  Derek Degnan kicked off the fifth inning with a walk.  A wild pitch by the Blue Hawks allowed Degnan advance to second base.  Zach Sutera followed up with a single to advance Degnan to third base.

After Sutera swiped to second base with one out in the top fifth, DaSU's Jordan Hofer produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Degnan to knot the game at 1-1.  On the same play, Sutera advanced to third base on the throw and scored home caused by DiSU's defensive error to give Trojans a 2-1 lead.

The Trojans continued its offensive outburst with another pair of runs in the top sixth frame.  Dyshawn Proudlove hit a single with one out.  He swiped to second base and advanced to third base followed by DiSU's wild pitch.  Smith Kemper reached on base caused by Blue Hawks' defensive miscue, scoring Proudlove at home for Trojans' 3-1 lead (Kemper advanced to second base on the same play).

DaSU ballooned their lead to 4-1 in the top sixth inning after Samuel Drummond's RBI single to score Kemper.

The Blue Hawks scored once in the bottom half of the sixth inning, thanks to a lead-off triple by Dylan Skabo.  A wild pitch by the Trojans allowed Skabo to score as DiSU trimmed DaSU's lead to 4-2.

Marcos Alvarez started the top seventh inning with a walk for Dakota State.  Hofer followed up with a single and advanced Alvarez to third base.  Boyd recorded an RBI to score Alvarez as the Trojans widen their lead to 5-2.

Dickinson State left a runner on first base when the game ended, securing the victory for Dakota State. 

Drummond went 2-of-4 at the plate with an RBI and recorded a stolen base for the Trojans.  Hofer added a single and an RBI.  Proudlove and Sutera each had a single, swiped one base and a run scored.  Degnan had two walks. 

Skabo had a triple and a run scored for the Blue Hawks.  Demarais, Lucas Rissler, Karson Sweeney, Daniel Moreno and Gabe Lizarraga each had a hit.

DiSU left eight runners on base compared to DaSU six runners left on base.

Nagel (W, 1-6) threw a total of 147 pitches to earn his first complete game victory this season for Dakota State.  He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five Blue Hawks' batters. 

Kooper Ray (L, 0-4) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for Dickinson State.  He worked for seven innings and allowed five runs (three unearned) on four hits.  Walter Wood pitched two scoreless innings in relief, limiting the Trojans to one hit. 

Dakota State steps aside their North Star conference play as they return back to North Dakota on Wednesday.  The Trojans play a nine-inning game versus NCAA Division I North Dakota State.  First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director