March 31, 2021

MITCHELL, S.D. – Trailing 8-4 in the final inning of the nine-inning non-conference baseball contest at chilly Caldwell Park Wednesday evening, Dakota State (S.D.) plated three runs to attempt a comeback but fell short to Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) by the score of 8-7.  The Trojans could not extend the game into the bottom ninth frame as they left runners on third base.

Both teams are 9-10 overall record after the game.  It was the first meeting between DSU and DWU since March 22, 2016.

Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column as they resume their North Star Athletic Association action Friday and Saturday.  The Trojans visit Waldorf (Iowa) in a four-game series at Waldorf Baseball Field in Forest City, Iowa, kicking off with the doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. followed by another doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. 

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 7 – FINAL

• After the first two outs of the top second inning, the Trojans produced four straight singles.  Samuel Drummond opened with a single, followed by Chris Burke's single to advance Drummond to second base.
• Walter Hultgren hit an RBI single to score Drummond as DSU earned the first lead of the game at 1-0 (Burke advanced to second base).  Ryan McDaniel followed up with an RBI single to score Burke to balloon DSU's lead to 2-0.
• On the same play, Hultgren scored home caused by DWU's defensive error to make it 3-0 in favor of the Trojans.
• Dakota Wesleyan answered back with three runs scored in the bottom half of the second frame.  Kyle Halverson led off with a single and advanced to second base caused by DSU's defensive miscue.  Caleb Crist added a single (Halverson is at third base).
• Kalub Carmichael added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs in the bottom second.  The Trojans scored three runs after Seth Christiansen's single to knot the game at 3-3.
• Joseph Hanisch drilled a triple with one out in the bottom third.  Halverson was hit-by-pitch and advanced to second base caused by DSU's defensive error, allowing Hanisch to score for a 4-3 DWU lead.
• Zack Satterwhite reached on base by a walk for the Tigers in the bottom third.  Logan Davis, courtesy runner for Satterwhite, swiped to second base (Halverson swiped to third base on the same play).  Ryan Norcia was hit-by-pitch with two outs to set up a bases loaded situation.
• Carmichae produced a 2-RBI single to extend DWU's lead to 6-3 in the bottom third inning, scoring Halverson and Davis.
• Chris Kropuenske led off the top fourth inning with a walk for Dakota State.  Drummond added a single to advance Kropuenske to second base.  After Burke's fly out to right field, Kropuenske advanced to third base.
• McDaniel reached safely on base by DWU's defensive error, allowing Kropuenske to score as the Trojans trailed 6-4 in the top fourth.
• The Tigers led off the bottom fourth with back-to-back singles by Carter Gullickson and Brad Dean.  Hanisch drilled an RBI double to score Dean as the Tigers' lead grew to 7-4.
• After Halverson reached on base by a walk for DWU in the bottom fourth, Satterwhite added an RBI double to score Hanisch to widen their lead to 8-4.
• Both teams were unable to score from the fifth through the eighth innings, despite leading a bases loaded situation in the top seventh frame for DSU. 
• The Trojans mounted a comeback in the final inning.  McDaniel led off by hit-by-pitch.  Jace Pribyl reached safely on base by DWU's defensive error and advanced McDaniel to second base with one out.
• Mason Macaluso hit an RBI single to score McDaniel (Pribyl advanced to second base) as the Trojans trailed 8-5 in the top fifth.  Esai Hernandez followed up with a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.
• Kropuenske hit an RBI single to score Pribyl as the Trojans cut the Tigers' lead to 8-6 in the top ninth (Josh Addington – pinch runner for Hernandez – advanced to second and Macaluso advanced to third). 
• Drummond hit an RBI ground out to score Macaluso as DSU's deficit went down to 8-7.
• The Trojans could not convert their scoring chance in the top ninth inning as the Tigers secured the victory.
• Kropuenske sparked the Trojans' offense attack with a double, single and an RBI.  Jackson O'Neal and Drummond each added two singles.  McDaniel had a single and drove in two RBIs.  Macaluso and Hultgren each recorded a single and an RBI.  Macaluso had two walks.  Burke had a hit.
• Hanisch registered a triple, double and an RBI for Dakota Wesleyan.  Christiansen added two hits and two RBIs.  Dean had two singles.  Halverson, Satterwhite, Crist and Norcia each had a hit.  Carmichael had a hit and two RBIs.
• DWU outhit DSU 12-10 in the game.  The Trojans committed six defensive errors compared to the Tigers three miscues.  Dakota State left 10 runners left on base, while Dakota Wesleyan had eight runners left on base.
• Thomas Geiger (L, 0-2) took the loss on the pitching circle for DSU.  He tossed 2 1/3 innings and allowed six runs (one unearned) on five hits.  Max Luesebrink pitched for 1 2/3 innings and gave up two runs.  Jared Urbach, Jacob Yaeger and David Kirby each combined for four scoreless innings in relief.  They limited the Tigers to two hits.
• Layne Stafford (W, 2-1) earned the victory after working for 6 2/3 innings for DWU.  He allowed four runs (two unearned) on seven hits.  Cole Barthel tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief, limiting DSU to one hit.  Jereko Martinenz worked for one out in the top ninth inning, give up three runs.  Tory Wilhelm (S, 1) earned the save as he closed the game with the final two outs.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director