May 5, 2018
NSAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTER
Photo credit by Valley City State (N.D.) Sports Information
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Top-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) and eighth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) met for the second time in the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Postseason Tournament Saturday evening at Charlie Brown Stadium. The Trojans were hoping to duplicate Friday's shocking victory, but the Comets ended DSU's season with a 14-3 eight-inning victory.
Dakota State finished their season with an overall record of 5-32. Mayville State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 32-12.
The Comets move on to the Charlie Brown bracket's championship game versus No. 4 seed Presentation (S.D.) Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Jamestown, N.D., needing two wins to advance to the NSAA Championship game.
MSU pound out 12 hits in the game, led by Brady Nygaard with a home run, single and drove in four runs. Spencer Merle added a hit and three RBIs. Jonathan Pluth registered three hits. Riley Nelson collected a triple, single and an RBI.
Dakota State had a 2-1 lead after the first inning, thanks to a 2-run home run by Jordan Hofer. It was his fourth home run of the season, his tenth career home run at DSU.
The Trojans trailed 4-3 after three innings after scoring a run caused by MSU's defensive error.
Mayville State outscored Dakota State 10- in the final five innings of the game, including a six-run production in the fifth inning.
Hofer finished the game by going 2-of-3 with a home run, double and an RBI for Dakota State. Marcos Alvarez added a hit and an RBI. Alec Gannon had two singles and swiped one base. Connor Nagel, Derek Degnan, Dyshawn Proudlove, Drummond and Klibbe each had a hit.
The Comets left 13 runners on base. The Trojans had 10 runners left on base.
Andrew Dayton started the game on the pitching mound for Dakota State. He pitched 1 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits. Hunter Hazen (L, 0-4) recorded the loss after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing four runs (one unearned) on one hit. Jacob Yaeger tossed a scoreless inning. Tyler Stading pitched four innings, giving up eight runs (six unearned) on six hits.
Mayville State struggled on the pitching mound with their starting pitcher. Austin Herrington only worked for one out in the first inning, allowing two runs on four hits. Kalton Ages (W, 4-2) earned the win after pitching 6 2/3 innings in relief. He struck out 10 Trojans' batters and yielded just one unearned run on five hits. Craig Broadman worked a scoreless eighth inning.
It was the final career college baseball game for four DSU's seniors Garrison Collier, Smith Kemper, Nagel and Proudlove.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
