March 5, 2019
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Dakota State (S.D.) rallied back from 4-0 deficit in the first game of the doubleheader versus Champion Christian (Ark.), earning a 5-4 10-inning victory Tuesday afternoon at Generals Field. The Trojans cruised past the Tigers 12-1 in the second game and completed a doubleheader sweep for the first time since May 1, 2016 (DSU swept Waldorf, Iowa at Flynn Field).
Dakota State earned its first wins of the season, improving their overall record to 2-6. Champion Christian remained winless in 10 games this season.
Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Champion Christian (Ark.) 4 – FINAL/10 innings
Dakota State was down four runs after three-and-half innings and rallied back to tie the game at 4-4 after five innings. The Trojans had to use extra innings and scored the game's winning run in the bottom 10th frame to earn its first win of the season.
The first two CCC batters in the top second inning each reached safely on base caused by DSU's defensive errors. With runners on third and second bases, the Tigers produced two straight RBI ground outs to earn a 2-0 lead.
Champion Christian added a pair of runs in the top fourth frame, thanks to Darrius Gaston's 2-RBI double to make it 4-0.
DSU ended their scoring drought with three runs scored in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Jalen Boyd led off with a single and advanced to third base on the same play caused by CCC's defensive miscue. Samuel Drummond followed up with an RBI single to score Boyd for Trojans' first run of the game (DSU trailed 3-1).
Ryan Jackovich was hit-by-pitch and advanced Drummond to second base in the bottom fourth. Marcos Alvarez drilled a 2-RBI double to score Drummond and Jackovich as the Trojans cut Tigers' lead to 4-3.
Dakota State added a run in the bottom fifth to tie the game. Drummond hit a single and advanced to second base after CCC committed a defensive error. Jackovich blasted an RBI double to deep right to score Drummond as the Trojans knotted the game at 4-4.
Both teams were unable to score in the sixth and seventh innings as the game was extended into extra innings. There was no score in the eighth and ninth innings, despite DSU stranding a runner on third base in the bottom ninth with two outs.
After two outs were recorded in the bottom 10th inning, Jackovich and Alvarez hit back-to-back singles. Noah Hammond reached on base caused by CCC's defensive miscue and advanced Alec Gannon (pinch runner for Jackovich) to third base and Alvarez to second base.
Tanner Landman hit a walk-off RBI single as Gannon scored the game's winning run, securing a 5-4 DSU victory in 10 innings.
Alvarez led the Trojans' offensive attack by going 3-of-5 at the plate with a double, two singles and collected two RBIs. Jackovich added a double, single and an RBI. Drummond had two singles and an RBI. Landman recorded a hit and an RBI. Hoeke, Boyd, Noah Hammond and Adrian Butrimas each registered a hit. Christian Sanchez swiped one base.
Gaston had two doubles and two RBIs for Champion Christian. Colton Dial recorded a hit and an RBI. Eli Stringer had a hit. Tristian May produced an RBI.
DSU outhit CCC 12-4 in the game. The Trojans committed four defensive errors compared to the Tigers three defensive miscues. Dakota State had 10 runners left on base, while Champion Christian left eight runners on base.
Chris Burke started the game on the pitching mound for the Trojans. He worked for four innings and gave up four runs (two unearned) on two hits. He struck out five Tigers' batters. Micah DeHarty (W, 1-1) notched the victory after tossing six scoreless innings in relief. He limited CCC to two hits and struck out four batters.
Tiger Stringer recorded the loss after pitching for 9 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs (two unearned) on 12 hits. He registered eight strikeouts.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 12, Champion Christian (Ark.) 1 – FINAL
The Trojans jumped to a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back as they dominated the Tigers by the score of 12-1.
Dakota State took the first lead of the game in the top first inning. Hoeke recorded a bunt single with one out, followed by Boyd's single to advance Hoeke to third base. A passed ball by the Tigers allowed Hoeke to score, giving DSU a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans exploded for four runs in the top second. Alvarez was hit-by-pitch. Hammond hit a single to advance Alvarez to third base. After a sacrifice bunt by Burke to advance Hammond to second base, a wild pitch by CCC allowed Alvarez to score to extend DSU's lead to 2-0 (Hammond advanced to third base).
Sanchez reached on base by a walk for the Trojans. Jerrett Plunkett hit a 2-RBI double to score Hammond and DeHarty (courtesy runner for Sanchez) to balloon DSU's lead to 4-0.
Dakota State made it 5-0 in the top second frame after Hoeke followed up with an RBI double to score Plunkett.
Dawson Cook hit an RBI single for Tigers' first and only run of the game in the bottom third (DSU led 5-1).
The Trojans scored once in the top fourth frame. Hoeke reached on base after Champion Christian committed an error. He swiped to second base. Boyd hit a ground out and advanced Hoeke to third base. Dakota State widen their lead to 6-1 after Drummond followed up with an RBI single to score Hoeke.
DSU made it 7-1 in the top sixth inning, highlighted by Boyd's double. Plunkett was hit-by-pitch and advanced to third base after Boyd's double. Drummond added an RBI ground out to score Plunkett to extend DSU's lead by six runs.
Dakota State produced five runs in the top seventh inning to earn the biggest lead of the game at 12-1.
The Tigers did not score in the bottom seventh frame, securing the victory for the Trojans.
Hoeke and Boyd each had two singles and a double for DSU. Hoeke scored three times, drove in two runs and swiped one base. Plunkett added a double, single and collected a game-high four RBIs. Drummond had a single and two RBIs. Jackovich registered a hit and an RBI. Hammond and Burke each had a hit and a run scored.
Cook had a hit and an RBI for Champion Christian. Colby Johnson, Silas, Cayden Meeks and Chad Graves each added a single.
The Trojans outhit the Tigers 12-5 in the game. DSU left nine runners on base compared to CCC seven runners left on base.
Trey Randel (W, 1-1) earned the victory on the pitching mound for the Trojans. He pitched four innings and allowed an unearned run on four hits. He struck out three CCC's batters. Steven Suarez worked for two innings in relief, limiting the Tigers to one hit. He also had three strikeouts. Andrew Dayton tossed a shutout seventh inning.
Matt Herron was tabbed the loss for Champion Christian. He worked for two innings and gave up five runs (one unearned) on six hits. Meeks pitched for two innings in relief, yielding an unearned run on two hits. Jordan Dunegan tossed 2 2/3 innings and gave up one run on one hit. Logan Passmore worked for one out and gave up five runs (one unearned) on three hits.
Up Next
Dakota State returns back to Generals Field to take on the host-team LSU-Alexandria. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. in a single non-conference seven-inning game in Alexandria.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
