March 21, 2019

YANKTON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned back to baseball action for the first time since March 7 Thursday late afternoon at Bob Tereshinski Stadium at Riverside Park.  The Trojans fell to in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) by the score of 10-1, thanks to a six-run offensive explosion in the third inning.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 2-9.  Mount Marty improved to 10-9 overall record.

The Lancers opened up with a 1-0 lead in the bottom first inning.  Reece Mimmack led off with a single and advanced to third base after Justin Miller's single.  Gabriel Leon drilled an RBI double to score MImmack for MMC's first lead of the game.

Billy Hancock reached on base by a walk in the bottom second with two outs for Mount Marty.  Drue Soukup, courtesy runner for Hancock, swiped to second base.  Esai Hernandez hit an RBI double to score Soukup as the Lancers extended their lead to 2-0.

Jerrett Plunkett hit a double with one out in the top third frame for the Trojans.  He advanced to third base after a ground out by Keaton Hoeke.  Plunkett scored on MMC's wild pitch as DSU cut the Lancers' lead down to 2-1.

Mount Marty piled up six runs in the bottom third to widen their lead to 8-1, highlighted by a pair of 2-RBI singles by Colin Muth and Hernandez.

Artie Gallegos hit a solo home run in the bottom seventh to balloon MMC's lead to 9-1.  Mimmack added an RBI sacrifice fly to make it 10-1 in favor of the Lancers.

The Lancers outhit the Trojans 13-6 in the game.

Chris Burke was 2-of-4 at the plate with two singles for DSU.  Plunkett and Ryan Jackovich each had a double.  Jalen Boyd and Samuel Drummond each added a single.  Noah Hammond reached on base by a walk twice.

Hernandez went 2-of-3 with a double, single and drove in three runs for MMC.  Muth added a hit and two RBIs.  Gallegos, Hancock and Leon each had a hit and an RBI.  Mimmack recorded two hits and an RBI.  Muth produced a single and two RBIs. 

Mount Marty left seven runners on base compared to Dakota State six runners left on base.

Sage Hudson (L, 0-2) took the loss on the pitching mound for DSU.  He tossed 2 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs (one unearned) on seven hits.  Andrew Dayton worked the final two outs in the third inning.  Steven Suarez pitched three scoreless innings in relief.  Micah DeHarty and Ryan Peterson each pitched one inning in relief.

Muth started the game for MMC, tossing two innings and yielded the Trojans to one hit.  Austin Wise (W, 1-0) earned the victory after working the third inning, giving up a run on one hit.  Evan Steiner, Corey Roach, Nick Iossi, Luis Ruiz and Miller combined for six innings of relief and limited DSU to four hits.

Dakota State opens up their North Star Athletic Association conference play on Sunday and Monday.  The Trojans play a four-game series with Valley City State (N.D.) at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Neb.  Doubleheaders on both days are set for 12 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director