April 5, 2018
LINCOLN, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Viterbo (Wis.) were tied at 3-3 through three-and-half innings Thursday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Baseball Triangular at Densmore Field. The V-Hawks scored once in the bottom fourth and sixth innings to defeat the Trojans by the score of 5-3.
Dakota State dropped their overall record to 0-18 and 0-8 NSAA conference record. Viterbo improved to 8-26 overall record and 5-4 record in league play. Both teams will play three more times later this month for another NSAA Triangular at Flynn Field from April 27 through April 29.
The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game in the top second frame with a run scored. Marcos Alvarez hit a bunt single to third base with one out. Smith Kemper followed up with a single and advanced Alvarez to third base. Hayden Klibbe recorded an RBI sacrifice bunt to score Alvarez to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
VU plated three runs in the bottom third inning to overtake the lead from DSU. The V-Hawks produced three consecutive singles by Noah Bouley, Evan Wenberg and Preston Stach to set up a bases loaded situation with one out. Nolan Glunz hit a 2-RBI single to score Bouley and Wenberg as the Viterbo gained a 2-1 lead (Stach advanced to second).
Stach swiped to third base for the V-Hawks. He then scored home after DSU's wild pitch to extend VU's lead to 3-1.
Dakota State answered back with two runs scored in the top fourth frame to knot the game. Dyshawn Proudlove led off with a single. Alvarez drilled an RBI double to center field and scored Proudlove as DSU cut VU's lead to 3-2.
Kemper added an RBI single to score Alvarez as the Trojans tied the game at 3-3 in the top fourth.
Viterbo regained their lead at 4-3 in the bottom half of the fourth inning, thanks to an RBI triple by Stach to score Bouley (who hit a single with one out).
The V-Hawks added a run to widen their lead to 5-3 in the bottom sixth. Joe Cliver led off with a walk. He advanced to second base after Jake Kleszcynski's sacrifice bunt. Stach hit an RBI single to score Zach Earll, pinch runner for Cliver, to give VU a two-run lead before heading into the final inning.
Dakota State left a runner on first base in the final inning (a single by Jalen Boyd), as the V-Hawks secured the victory.
Alvarez was 2-of-3 at the plate with a double, single, an RBI and scored twice in the game for the Trojans. Kemper added two singles and an RBI. Boyd tallied two singles. Jordan Hofer and Proudlove each had a single. Klibbe produced an RBI.
Stach finished the game by going 3-of-4 at the plate with a triple, two singles, two RBIs and a stolen base for the V-Hawks. Bouley added three singles and scored twice. Glunz had a single and two RBIs. Brad Giss recorded a double.
VU had nine hits in the game compared to DSU eight hits. The V-Hawks left eight runners on base compared to the Trojans five runners left on base.
Connor Nagel (L, 0-5) took the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits. Trae Ramsey worked for the final out in the bottom sixth inning, recording a strikeout.
Kyle Gilbertson (W, 5-4) earned the victory after tossing 5 1/3 innings for VU. He gave up three runs on seven hits and registered seven strikeouts. Austin Stibbe (S, 1) earned the save after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. He limited the Trojans to one hit.
Viterbo faces No. 15-ranked Jamestown (N.D.) in the second game of the NSAA Baseball Triangular at 2:30 p.m. The triangular closes out with a contest between Dakota State and Jamestown at 5 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
