March 13, 2021

DALLAS, Texas – Dakota State (S.D.) completed their baseball four-game series sweep with another doubleheader sweep over host-team Dallas Christian (Texas) Saturday afternoon at DCC Baseball Field.  The Trojans won by the scores of 2-1 in the first game and wrapped up the series with an 18-6 game two win.

Dakota State earned their fifth win in the last six games, improving to 5-6 overall record.  Dallas Christian fell to 3-21-1 overall record.

The Trojans are scheduled to host long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference contest on Tuesday at Flynn Field.  First pitch is set for 5 p.m.  Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics' website for schedule updates.

Game 1:  Dakota State (S.D.) 2, Dallas Christian (Texas) 1 – FINAL

• Both teams were unable to score through the first three innings in the first game of the doubleheader.
• The Crusaders grabbed its first lead of the game in the bottom fourth frame.  Cooper Ness led off with a single, followed by an RBI double by Alex Westman to score Ness for 1-0 DCC lead.
• DSU answered back with a solo home run with one out by Chris Burke in the top fifth inning, tying the game at 1-1.  It was his first career home run at DSU.
• Josh Addington reached on base by a walk with one out for the Trojans in the top seventh.  He swiped to second base.  Burke drilled an RBI double to score Addington to put Dakota State up 2-1.
• The Trojans secured the victory by ending the game with a double play.
• Burke paced DSU's offense attack with a home run, double and collected two RBIs.  Jackson O'Neal added two singles.  Ryan McDaniel, Jace Pribyl, Esai Hernandez and Samuel Drummond each hit a single.  Addington registered a walk.
• Westman had a double and an RBI for Dallas Christian.  Ness, Cruz Barrera, and James Montez each had a single.
• DSU outhit DCC 8-4 in the game.  The Trojans left six runners on base compared to Crusaders five runners left on base.
• Carver Hultgren started the game on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He tossed five innings and allowed one run on four hits.  He struck out four DCC's batter.  Kahlil Tilbury (W, 1-0) earned the victory after pitching two shutout innings in relief.
• Adriel Davilla (L, 0-1) pitched a complete game, despite a setback for Dallas Christian.  He yielded two runs on eight hits and registered four strikeouts.

Game 2:  Dakota State (S.D.) 18, Dallas Christian (Texas) 6 – FINAL

• Dakota State kicked off the final game of the four-game series by hitting three straight singles from McDaniel, O'Neal and Pribyl.  Pribyl hit an RBI single to score Jeremiah Zimmerman, courtesy runner for McDaniel, to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
• Esai Hernandez reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation for DSU in the top first.  Chris Kropuenske followed up with an RBI walk to score O'Neal to extend their lead to 2-0.
• Drummond recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Pribyl, followed by Addington's RBI single to score Hernandez as Trojans' lead ballooned to 4-0.
• Dakota State plated 10 runs in the top second inning as their lead grew to 14-0, highlighted by Kropuenske's 2-run home run blast.  It was his first home run at DSU.
• Brandon Andrews drilled an RBI double to score Zeke Humek, who reached on base by a walk.  DCC trimmed DSU's lead to 14-1 after three innings.
• O'Neal led off the top fourth inning with a solo home run to widen Trojans' lead to 15-1.
• The Crusaders plated two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to trim DSU's lead to 15-3.
• Micah DeHarty led off the top fifth with a single.  Three wild pitches by the Crusaders allowed DeHarty to advance each base and scored home for DSU's 16-3 lead.
• Westman hit an RBI single in the bottom fifth as Dallas Christian trailed 16-4.
• After Hernandez hit a single in the top sixth, Drummond blasted a 2-run home run to balloon Dakota State's lead to 18-4.  It was Drummond's second home run this season and his fourth overall home run at DSU.
• Dallas Christian scored twice in the bottom sixth inning, trailing 18-6.
• The Trojans secured the victory as the Crusaders left two runners on base in the final inning.
• Mason Macaluso was 3-of-5 at the plate for Dakota State.  McDaniel, O'Neal, Pribyl, Hernandez and Drummond each added two hits.  Kropuenske drove in four runs.  Drummond added three RBIs.  Macaluso, Pribyl and Hernandez each tallied two RBIs.
• O'Neal reached on base by a walk three times for DSU.  Shain Kimmes added two walks.  O'Neal, Kropuenske and Drummond each swiped one base.
• Westman was 2-of-3 at the plate with an RBI for DCC.  Humek and Andrews each had a hit and an RBI.  Ness and Marcso Vargas each had a hit.
• Dakota State outhit Dallas Christian 17-7 in the game.  The Trojans left 12 runners on base compared to the Crusaders 11 runners left on base.
• Billy Plummer started the game after working 3 2/3 innings for DSU.  He allowed three runs on three hits and recorded three strikeouts.  Jacob Yaeger (W, 1-0) earned the win after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief.  He gave up one run on two hits.
• Cameron Pitts worked for two outs in relief for Dakota State.  Kevin Krumm tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding two hits.
• Trever Smith (L, 0-1) recorded the setback for Dallas Christian after tossing 1 2/3 innings.  He allowed nine runs on ten hits.  The Crusaders used five different pitchers in relief.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director