April 25, 2021

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) exploded for a seven-run first-inning in the North Star Athletic Association baseball four-game series finale, sparking to an 11-4 nine-inning contest Sunday afternoon at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.  Every Trojan nine starting hitters recorded at least a hit in the game, gaining a four-game series split.

Dakota State improved to 19-20 overall record and evened their North Star conference record to 12-12 (.500 winning percentage).  The Trojans recorded its 13th road victory this season, the most road wins since the 2012 season (17 road victories).  Dickinson State fell to 12-19 overall record and 10-9 NSAA conference record (.526 winning percentage).

Dakota State is currently sixth in the NSAA conference standings, one game behind Valley City State (N.D.) and Dickinson State who are tied for fourth (each with a 10-9 NSAA conference record).  Bellevue (Neb.) currently leads the conference standings with 12-4 conference record (.750 winning percentage), followed by Mayville State (N.D.) second with 17-7 league record (.545 winning percentage), and Waldorf (Iowa) third with 13-10 NSAA record (.565 winning percentage).

The Trojans step aside of their league play with a non-conference contest on Tuesday at NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris.

DaSU returns home at Flynn Field on Wednesday for a non-conference nine-inning game with Mount Marty (S.D.) and wraps up the regular-season schedule with the NSAA four-game series versus Viterbo on Friday and Saturday.

Dickinson State plays a nine-inning game at Jamestown (N.D.) on Tuesday and closes out their regular-season play with the NSAA four-game series at Mayville State (N.D.) on Friday and Saturday.

Game 4:  Dakota State (S.D.) 11, Dickinson State (N.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Ryan McDaniel led off nine-inning contest with a single for the Trojans.  Alec Gannon, courtesy runner for McDaniel, swiped to second base.  Jace Pribyl drilled an RBI double to score Gannon to give Dakota State its first lead of the game at 1-0.
• DaSU racked up six more runs with two outs in the in the top first inning.  The scoring surge continued when Chris Kropuenske hit an RBI single to score Pribyl for a 2-0 Trojans' lead (Kropuenske advanced to second base on the throw). 
• Josh Van Beek blasted a 2-run home run to balloon Dakota State's lead to 4-0 in the top first, scoring Kropuenske.  It was his second home run in the four-game series and his third home run in the same week (versus No. 25-ranked Bellevue, Neb. on April 20).
• Chris Burke reached on base by a walk for the Trojans in the top first.  Walker Hultgren and Josh Addington followed up with back-to-back singles to set up a bases loaded situation. 
• McDaniel hit a 2-RBI single to score Burke and W. Hultgren to extend the Trojans' lead to 6-0 in the top first.  Dakota State made it 7-0 when Samuel Drummond hit an RBI single to score Addington.
• Dickinson State ended its scoring drought after plating three runs in the bottom fifth inning.  With two outs and a runner on first base after a fielder's choice by Derrick Calvillo, courtesy runner Alberto Nieto swiped to second base and advanced to third base on the same play after DaSU's defensive error.  Brendan Schneiter reached safely on base after another Trojans' miscue, allowing Nieto to score as the Blue Hawks trailed 7-1.
• Robert Encinas hit a double to advance Schneiter to third base for DiSU in the bottom fifth.  Kael Richards produced a 2-RBI single to score Schneiter and Encinas as the Blue Hawks cut the Trojans' lead to 7-3.
• Dakota State answered with three runs in the top sixth inning.  Drummond reached on base after DiSU's defensive error.  He advanced to second base after Pribyl's ground out.  Mason Macaluso drilled an RBI double to score Drummond for 8-3 DaSU lead.
• Van Beek added an RBI double with two outs to score Macaluso as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 9-3 in the top sixth.  Burke reached safely on base after DiSU's defensive error to allow Van Beek to advance to third base. 
• DaSU made it 10-3 with two outs in the top sixth frame after W. Hultgren's RBI single to score Van Beek.
• Angel Faras hit a solo home run on the first pitch in the bottom seventh inning as the Blue Hawks trimmed the Trojans' lead to 11-4.
• Van Beek and Burke started the top eighth inning with back-to-back walks for Dakota State.  W. Hultgren reached on a fielder's choice to advance Van Beek to third base, while Burke was out at second base.
• Addington produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Van Beek as DaSU widen their lead to 11-4 in the top eight.
• Grant Svikulis retired the final six DiSU batters to secure the victory for Dakota State.
• Van Beek finished the game by going perfect 3-of-3 with a home run, two doubles and drove in a game-high three RBIs for Dakota State.  He also scored three times.  McDaniel added two singles, two walks, and two RBIs.  Drummond, Pribyl, and Macaluso each had a double, single, and an RBI.
• W. Hultgren tallied two singles and an RBI for the Trojans.  Kropuenske and Addington each had a hit and an RBI.  Burke recorded a single and two walks.  Gannon swiped one base.
• Richards had two singles and two RBIs for the Blue Hawks.  Encinas added a double and single.  Faras had a home run and an RBI.  Schneiter had a single and an RBI.
• Dakota State piled up 16 hits in the game compared to Dickinson State 11 hits.  Both teams committed three defensive errors.  The Trojans left 12 runners on base compared to the Blue Hawks eight runners left on base.
• Carver Hultgren (W, 2-4) collected a victory on the pitching mound for DaSU.  He pitched seven innings and allowed four runs (two unearned) on 11 hits.  He recorded two strikeouts.  Svikulis tossed two shutout innings in relief.  He also struck out three Blue Hawk batters.
• Jose Torres (L, 3-3) recorded the defeat after working for two outs in the first inning for DiSU.  He gave up six runs on four hits.  Brannan Hogan pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief, allowing four runs (two unearned) on nine hits.  He recorded seven strikeouts.  Tamarek Wrinkle, Cedric Jimenez and Nieto also worked in relief.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director