March 31, 2019
FOREST CITY, Iowa – Waldorf (Iowa) shut down Dakota State (S.D.) 13-0 in seven innings in the third game of the North Star Athletic Association baseball four-game series Sunday afternoon at Forest City High School baseball field. The Warriors held off Trojans' late comeback, hanging on to a 5-4 victory to complete the four-game series sweep.
Dakota State fell to 3-17 overall record and 1-7 record in league play. Waldorf raised their overall record to 14-12 and remained undefeated in North Star contests with a 4-0 record.
Game 1 – Waldorf (Iowa) 13, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/7 innings
The Warriors exploded for five runs each in the first and second innings in the first game of the doubleheader and never looked back.
WU produced four extra-bases hits in the opening inning, thanks to three straight doubles by Brett Stenlund, Garrett Gillen and Dusty Rogers. Cal Fazzio capped off the first inning with a 2-RBI doubles as the Warriors raced to 5-0 lead.
Waldorf produced another five-run inning in the second frame to widen their lead to 10-0, highlighted by a pair of 2-run home runs by Matt Palmer and Matthew Garcia.
The Warriors added two runs in the bottom fourth and a run in the sixth inning to complete the final score.
Mac Pearson (W, 3-2) tossed a no-hitter in the game for the Warriors. He issued one walk to DSU's Jerrett Plunkett and recorded seven strikeouts. The Warriors committed one defensive error.
Waldorf recorded 17 hits in the game, with nine coming from extra-bases hits in the game (six doubles, one triple and two home runs). Rogers, Garcia, Fazzio and Palmer each earned two RBIs. Joey Ponder was 3-of-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.
Chris Burke (L, 0-3) recorded the loss after pitching the first 1 1/3 innings of the game for DSU. He gave up seven runs on six hits. Sage Hudson, Jared Urbach, Ryan Peterson and Kyle Gosh also worked at least one inning in relief.
Game 2 – Waldorf (Iowa) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL
Waldorf broke a 3-3 tie with two runs scored in the bottom fifth and held off Dakota State's comeback in the final inning to secure the four-game series finale.
Plunkett led off the game with a double for the Trojans. Burke followed up with a single and advanced Plunkett to third base. Samuel Drummond produced an RBI fielder's choice to score Plunkett to open up with a 1-0 lead for DSU.
The Warriors pound out three straight hits to start the bottom first frame. Ponder led off with a double, followed by Alejandro Gonzalez's single to advance Ponder to third base. Palmer drilled a 2-RBI triple to score Ponder and Gonzalez as WU earned a 2-1 lead.
Gillen added an RBI to score Palmer as Waldorf extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom first.
Dakota State answered with two runs scored in the top third frame. Keaton Hoeke was hit-by-pitch and advanced to third base after Plunkett's double. Burke reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with no outs.
Jalen Boyd hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Hoeke (Plunkett advanced to third base) as the Trojans trailed 3-2 in the top fifth. DSU knotted the game at 3-3 after Drummond's RBI single to score Plunkett.
Jack Muhleck led off the bottom fifth with a triple. Garrett Munoz produced an RBI double to score Muhleck as WU regained their lead to 4-3.
After Munoz advanced to third base by DSU's passed ball, Ponder recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Munoz to make it 5-3 in favor of the Warriors.
The Trojans mounted a comeback in the final inning as Plunkett led off with a double. He advanced to third base after Burke's fly out to left field. Boyd recorded his second RBI sacrifice fly to score Plunkett as DSU trimmed WU's lead to 5-4.
Drummond followed up with a single. Christian Sanchez, pinch runner for Drummond, advanced to second base after Marcos Alvarez's single. Adrian Butrimas hit a single to set up a bases loaded situation.
The Warriors secured the victory as the Trojans were caught stealing at home.
DSU outhit WU 9-5, despite the setback.
Plunkett led Dakota State's offense with three doubles and scored three runs. Boyd collected two RBIs. Drummond recorded two singles and tallied two RBIs. Burke and Alvarez each had a hit. Burke and Boyd each had a walk.
Munoz and Ponder each had a double and an RBI for Waldorf. Palmer added a triple and two RBIs. Muhleck also had a triple. Gonzalez recorded a single. Gillen had an RBI.
Brett Sanchez (L, 1-2) took the loss after tossing a complete game on the pitching mound for DSU. He allowed five runs (one unearned) on five hits.
Dylan Hoffman (W, 2-1) earned the victory for WU. He worked for 6 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits. He registered five strikeouts. Andrew Benns (S, 5) earned the save as he closed the game with the final out.
Up Next
Dakota State's scheduled home game versus in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) on Tuesday has been moved to Thursday at 3:30 p.m. There will be a developmental baseball game to follow at approximately 6 p.m. Both games will be at Flynn Field in Madison, S.D.
The Trojans' next game is set for Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. as they visit NCAA Division I South Dakota State. The nine-inning game is held at Erv Huether Field in Brookings, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
