February 28, 2020

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) completed their 4-0 record baseball sweep over Kansas Christian, winning the final two games of the four-game series Friday at KC Urban Youth Academy.  The Trojans had to use the final inning comeback in both games, winning in a high scoring affair by the score of 17-14 in the first game.  DSU rallied back with five runs scored in the final inning to secure an 8-4 victory. 

It was the first four-game series sweep for the Trojans since April 5-6, 2014 (swept four-game series over Dickinson State at Dickinson, N.D.)  The Trojans moved to .500 with an overall record of 5-5, first time since the early 2016 when DSU was .500 or better.   The Falcons fell to 3-9 overall record.

Dakota State will head to Tucson, Ariz. for the Tucson Invitational March 9-13 for a six-game schedule.  The Trojans kick off the tournament with a doubleheader versus Dordt (Iowa) on March 9.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 17, Kansas Christian (Kan.) 14 – FINAL

• Dakota State scored their first two runs in the top of the first.  Jace Pribyl led off with a single with two outs, followed by Esai Hernandez who doubled to advance Pribyl to third base.  Mason Macaluso produced a 2-RBI double to score Pribyl and Hernandez for 2-0 DSU lead.
• Kansas Christian ended their scoring drought in the bottom of the third.  CL Stacker was hit-by-pitch with one out, followed by Cole Henley's single to advance Stacker to second base.  Stay'Jawn Hunter reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.  La'Quandre Williams hit a base-clearing 3-RBI double to score Stacker, Henley and Hunter to give KCC a 3-2 lead.
• DSU answered with a run scored in the top fourth frame.  Mason Macaluso and Chris Kropuenske recorded back-to-back hit-by-pitches.  After a double play defensively by the Falcons (Macaluso advanced to third), Jeremiah Zimmerman reached safely on baser after Kansas Christian's defensive error to allow Macaluso to score, tying the game at 3-3.
• KCC scored three times in the bottom half of the fourth inning to regain their lead to 6-3, highlighted by Henley's 2-RBI double.
• Dakota State exploded for seven runs in the top fifth inning, capped by Samuel Drummond's 3-RBI double for a 10-6 lead.  The Trojans also recorded two singles, three walks and two hit-by-pitch in the top fifth.
• Henley drilled a 2-RBI triple, followed by Hunter's RBI single as the Falcons trim DSU's lead to 10-9 in the bottom fifth.
• The Trojans made it 11-9 in the top sixth, thanks to Hernandez's lead-off double.  He advanced to third after Macaluso's fly out to center field.  Kropuenske followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Hernandez.
• Kansas Christian scored three times in the bottom sixth inning to regain their lead to 12-11.
• Tyler Kropuenske led off the top seventh with a walk for DSU.  Drummond followed up with an RBI triple to score Tyler Kropuenske as the Trojans knotted the game at 12-12.
• After Pribyl reached on base by a walk, the Trojans continued its scoring outburst as Hernandez hit an RBI double to score Drummond for a 13-12 lead (Pribyl advanced to third base) in the top seventh.  Macaluso reached on base to set up a bases loaded situation.
• Chris Kropuenske followed up with 3-RBI bases-clearing double to score Pribyl, Hernandez and Macaluso as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 16-12 in the top seventh.  Zimmerman hit an RBI single to score Christ Kropuenske to extend DSU's lead to 17-12.
• The Falcons scored twice in the bottom half of the seventh inning to reduce DSU's lead to 17-14.  The Trojans halted KCC's scoring chances as they left one runner on base when the game ended.
• The Trojans and the Falcons each had 12 hits in the game, paced by Hernandez with three doubles.  Drummond had a triple, double and drove in four runs.  Chris Kropuenske had a hit and tallied five RBIs.  Pribyl recorded two hits.  Ryan McDaniel, Macaluso, William Mote, and Zimmerman each had a hit.
• Hernandez led DSU with four runs scored. Pribyl and Macaluso each added three runs.
• Kansas Christian was led by Henley, who had four this and collected four RBIs.  Williams had two hits and four RBIs.  Hunter added two hits and an RBI.  Henley and Abram Stewart each scored three times in the game. 
• There were some pitching discrepancies for the Trojans.  Cameron Pitts started the game on the pitching mound.  Jeremy Lopes (W, 1-2) earned the victory in relief.  Jared Urbach closed the game for DSU.
• Lanz Heath pitched 4 2/3 innings for Kansas Christian and gave up 10 runs (one unearned) on six hits.  Mason Chance recorded the defeat after tossing 1 2/3 innings.  He allowed three runs on three hits.  Williams finished out the final two outs in the top seventh inning giving up four runs on three hits.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 8, Kansas Christian (Kan.) 4 – FINAL

• The Trojans trailed 4-2 after four innings in the four-game series finale.  DSU used a late comeback, scoring six runs in the final two innings to hold off the Falcons.
• Kansas Christian scored first in the bottom second inning, thanks to a pair of extra-bases hits.  Williams led off with a double.  Colin Henley drilled an RBI triple to score Williams.  Henley scored home after a wild pitch by DSU to earn a 2-0 lead.
• DSU ended their scoreless innings with a pair of runs in the top fourth frame.  Pribyl and Hernandez opened with back-to-back singles.  Both Pribyl and Hernandez advanced one base after a wild pitch committed by KCC.  Macaluso produced an RBI ground out to score Pribyl as the Trojans trailed 2-1.
• Chris Kropuenske produced an RBI single to score Hernandez as the Trojans tied the game at 2-2 in the top fourth.
• The Falcons answered with two runs in the bottom fourth with Henley's 2-RBI triple to regain their lead at 4-2.
• Pribyl led off the sixth inning with a double for Dakota State.  He advanced to third after Hernandez's ground out.  Macaluso hit an RBI ground out to shortstop, allowing Pribyl to score as DSU trailed 4-3.
• Dakota State stormed back in the final inning, plating five runs.  Drummond and Zimmerman recorded back to-back walks.  Pribyl hit an RBI single to score Drummond as the Trojans tied the game at 4-4.
• The Trojans continued its scoring in the top seventh as KCC committed a defensive error to allow Zimmerman to score home for 5-4 lead (Hernandez reached safely on first base).  Macaluso reached safely on base on fielder's choice (Pribyl advanced to third, while Hernandez was out at second base).
• Chris Kropuenske drilled a 2-RBI double to score Pribyl and Macaluso for 7-4 Trojans lead in the top seventh.  Mote added an RBI single to score Chris Kropuenske to make it 8-4 in favor of DSU.
• Dakota State's defense stopped Kansas Christian from scoring, leaving one runner on base when the game ended.
• Pribyl was perfect at the plate, going 4-of-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.  Chris Kropuenske added a double, single and tallied three RBIs.  Mote recorded two hits and an RBI.  Drummond, Hernandez and Seth Resnick each had a hit.  Macaluso collected two RBIs.
• Colin Henley smashed two triples and drove in three runs for the Falcons.  Williams had a double and single with two runs scored.  Hunter and Liam Deegan each recorded a hit.
• Kahlil Tilbury pitched four innings for Dakota State, giving up four runs on six hits.  Kobe Lien (W, 1-0), earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings, yielding just two hits.
• Darrell Herrington tossed 6 1/3 innings for Kansas Christian, despite the defeat.  He allowed four runs on eight hits.  Hunter also pitched 2/3 innings in relief, giving up four unearned runs on three hits.

Madelyn Shockey, DSU Sports Writer