February 11, 2022

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) made their 2022 baseball debut Friday afternoon at The Z, facing host-team Avila (Mo.) of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).  The Eagles shut down the Trojans 8-0 in the first game.  DSU rallied back to earn a doubleheader split with a 4-1 game two victory.

Dakota State is 1-1 overall record.  It is the first time since the 2016 season that the Trojans won a game on the season opening day.  Avila evened their overall record to 3-3 after their game two setback.

Both teams were unable to play another game on Saturday due to cold temperatures.  The final two games of the four-game series will not be made up.

Dakota State continues their action next weekend with a four-game slate next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 18-19).  The Trojans head to Marshall, Mo. to take on the host-team Missouri Valley in a three-game series, followed by a neutral site contest with Aquinas (Mich.).

Game 1:  Avila (Mo.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

• Dakota State was held to three hits in the first game of the doubleheader.
• The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring opportunity in the top third inning, despite a lead-off triple by Chris Burke.
• The game was scoreless through three-and-half innings before Avila scored its first run of the game. 
• Landon Vahle drilled a double with one out in the bottom half of the fourth inning.  Isaiah Alvarez followed up with a single to advance Vahle to third base. 
• Logan Murany reached on base by a walk with two outs to set up a bases loaded situation for the Eagles.  Reyes Willis followed up with an RBI walk to score Murany to give Avila its first lead of the game at 1-0 in the bottom fourth.
• AU racked up four runs in the bottom fifth inning, highlighted by JD Leslie with a 2-RBI double as their lead grew to 5-0.
• Leslie added an RBI double, while Reyes Willis recorded a 2-RBI double as Avila ballooned their lead to 8-0 in the bottom sixth.
• The Trojans were unable to score in the final inning as the Eagles secured the victory.
• Burke finished the game by going 2-of-3 at the plate with a triple and single for Dakota State.  Jackson O'Neal added a single.  Ryan McDaniel reached on base by a walk.
• Leslie was 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single and drove in three runs for the Eagles.  Willis added a double and three RBIs.  Vahle had a double and two walks.  Alvarez recorded a hit and an RBI.
• JD Kirchner (L, 0-1) recorded the setback on the pitching circle for DSU after tossing four innings.  He allowed one run on two hits and struck out seven AU batters.  David Kirby and Carver Hultgren pitched in relief.  Jared Urbach pitched the final out in the bottom sixth.
• Jarret Dotson (W, 2-0) pitched a complete game victory for Avila.  He limited the Trojans to three hits and recorded seven strikeouts.

Game 2:  Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Avila (Mo.) 1 – FINAL

• Dakota State pound out 11 hits in the second game of the doubleheader to earn a split with Avila.
• Noah Angstadt hit a double with one out in the top first frame for DSU.  Jace Pribyl drilled an RBI double to score Angstadt to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
• Dakota State continued its scoring run in the opening inning, adding two more runs with two outs.  Kameron Bryant hit an RBI double to score Pribyl followed by Josh Van Beek's RBI single to score Bryant as the Trojans' lead grew to 3-0.
• Murany smashed a solo home run with one out in the bottom second as the Eagles trimmed their deficit to 3-1.
• The Trojans added a run in the top fifth inning.  McDaniel led off with a single.  Pribyl added a single with one out and advanced McDaniel to third base.  Mason Macaluso hit an RBI single to score McDaniel as DSU increased its lead to 4-1.
• Avila left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the first victory of the season for DSU.
• Angstadt, Pribyl, and Macaluso powered the Trojans' offense with a double and single each.  Bryant added a double, RBI, and walk.  Burke collected two hits.  Van Beek produced a single and RBI.  McDaniel also had a single. 
• Murany had a home run, RBI, and a walk for Avila.  Zach Lintzen added a single. 
• Grant Svikulis (W, 1-0) earned the victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits.  He registered three strikeouts.  Cole Westerlund (S, 1) recorded the save after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director