March 6, 2019

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Dakota State (S.D.) led 3-1 after four innings over LSU-Alexandria Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference baseball action at Generals Field.  The Generals exploded for four runs in the bottom fifth frame and held off the Trojans by the score of 5-3.

Dakota State fell to 2-7 overall record.  LSU-Alexandria, who received votes in the first edition of the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll Tuesday, improved to 13-4 overall record.  The Generals qualified for the NAIA Baseball National Tournament Opening Round last season after winning the Red River States conference postseason tournament.

Both teams were unable to score through the first three innings of the game.

The Trojans earned the first lead of the game in the top fourth frame.  Chris Kropuenske hit a double with one out.  Marcos Alvarez reached on base by a walk.  Chris Burke produced an RBI single to score Kropuenske to give DSU a 1-0 lead. 

Alvarez advanced to third base after Burke's single and scored home on the same play caused by LSU-A's defensive error to extend Trojans' lead to 2-0 (Burke advanced to second base).  A wild pitch by the Generals allowed Burke advance to third base.

After Adrian Butrimas reached on base by a walk with two outs, Burke scored home after another wild pitch by the Generals.  The Trojans' lead ballooned to 3-0.

LSU-Alexandria answered back with one run scored in the bottom half of the fourth inning.  Logan Constantine led off with a walk.  He swiped to second base and advanced to third base after a sacrifice bunt by Seth Patin.  Kobe Baker, pinch hitter for Kameron Broussard, hit an RBI single to score Patin as LSU-A trimmed DSU's lead to 3-1.

The Generals mounted a comeback in the bottom fifth inning racking up four runs to overtake the lead from DSU.  Ronnie McBride led off with a bunt single.  He stole for second base.  Jesse Fruge followed up with an RBI double to score McBride as LSU-Alexandria trailed 3-2.

Zach Larson added a bunt single to advance Fruge to third base.  Kris Tamplet reached on base by a walk and advanced Larson to second base.  Constantine recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Fruge, tying the game at 3-3.  A wild pitch by the Trojans allowed Larson to advance to third and Tamplet to second base. 

Dakota State prevented the Generals to take the lead after Larson was tagged out at home after Seth Patin's fielder choice to third base.  Baker followed up with an RBI single to score Tamplet (Patin advanced to second).

Ben Bayless added an RBI single to score Patin to extend LSU-Alexandria's lead to 5-3 in the bottom fifth.

DSU was unable to score in the final inning as they left one runner on base, securing the victory for LSU-A.

Burke went 2-of-2 at the plate with an RBI and walk for Dakota State.  Jerrett Plunkett added two singles.  Kropuenske had a double and a run scored.  Samuel Drummond and Alvarez each walked twice. 

Baker was 2-of-2 with two singles and drove in two runs for LSU-Alexandria.  Fruge and Bayless each added a hit and registered an RBI.  McBride and Brady Perise each had a hit.

LSU-A outhit DSU 8-5 in the game.  Both teams left eight runners on base.

Sage Hudson (L, 0-1) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for DSU.  He worked for four-plus innings and allowed five runs on six hits.  He recorded three strikeouts.  Andrew Dayton tossed one inning in relief and gave up two hits.  Ryan Peterson pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Hunter Meche started the game for LSU-Alexandria.  He pitched four innings and allowed three runs on five hits.  He struck out seven DSU's batters.  Don Charles (W, 2-1) earned the victory after tossing one shutout inning in relief.  Sam Poliquin (S, 5) collected a save after pitching two shutout innings and recorded four strikeouts.

Dakota State closes out the Louisiana trip Thursday evening as they visit NCAA Division III Louisiana College.  First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Billy Allgood Field in Pineville, La.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director