February 26, 2022

OMAHA, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) poured in a season-high 18 runs to extend their winning streak to six games after routing host-team Graceland (Iowa) 18-6 on the first day of the Joplin (Mo.) Tournament at Millard North High School baseball field Saturday late afternoon.  The Trojans also pounded out a season-high 25 hits in the game.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 6-1.  Graceland is 2-7 overall record.

The Trojans play Midland (Neb.) in the second game of the Joplin tournament on the same field at 6:15 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 18, Graceland (Iowa) – 6 – FINAL

• After a scoreless first inning, the Yellowjackets scored its first runs of the game in the top second frame.  Kamaehu Sanchez led off with a single.  Andres Lopez followed up with a double to advance courtesy runner William Pagan to third base.
• Darwin Marquez produced a 2-RBI single to score Pagan and Lopez for GU 2-0 lead in the top second.
• Dakota State answered in the bottom half of the first inning with a lead-off solo home run by Mason Macaluso, trailing 2-1.
• The Trojans added a run in the bottom third to tie the game.  Ryan McDaniel hit a single with one out and swiped to second base.  He advanced to third base caused by Graceland's defensive error.
• Jace Pribyl produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score McDaniel as DSU knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom third.
• Dakota State continued its scoring surge with three more runs in the bottom fourth, highlighted by Pribyl's RBI double to balloon their lead to 5-2.  McDaniel drilled a 2-RBI double earlier in the inning.
• Sanchez hit a 2-RBI double, while Sanchez added an RBI single as the Yellowjackets answered with three runs to tie the game at 5-5 in the top fifth.
• The Trojans exploded for eight runs in the bottom fifth inning to extend their lead, highlighted by eight straight batters reaching safely on base.
• Macaluso and Chris Burke sparked the bottom fifth with back-to-back singles.  Jackson O'Neal smashed an RBI double to score Macaluso for DSU's 6-5 lead (Burke advanced to third).
• Dakota State made it 9-5 after Walker Hultgren and McDaniel (2 RBIs) hitting back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom fifth inning. 
• Noah Angstadt followed up with an RBI double to make it 10-5 in favor of DSU in the bottom fifth.  Pribyl produced an RBI after reaching safely on base after GU's defensive error, allowing Angstadt to score for a 11-5 lead.
• Kameron Bryant drilled an RBI triple to score Pribyl as the Trojans' lead grew to 12-5.  Burke added an RBI single to score Bryant to make it 13-5 DSU in the bottom fifth.
• Bryan Paez hit an RBI double in the top sixth as Graceland trailed 13-6.
• Dakota State added five more runs in the bottom sixth inning, highlighted by Pribyl's 2-RBI singles followed by a 3-run home run by Bryant as their lead grew to 18-6, securing the victory.
• Bryant went 3-of-5 at the plate with a triple, home run, single, and drove in four runs.  Pribyl added a double, single and tallied five RBIs. 
• Macaluso was perfect at the plate by going 4-of-4 with a home run, three singles and an RBI for DSU.  McDaniel added a double, two singles and drove in three runs.
• Angstadt also went perfect 4-of-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI for Dakota State.  Burke had two hits and an RBI.  O'Neal had a double, two singles and an RBI.  Hultgren hit two singles and an RBI.  Braxton Lacher and Josh Van Beek each had a hit.
• Sanchez led the Yellowjackets with two hits and two RBIs.  Lopez added a double, single, and an RBI.  Preston Harris tallied two singles.  Marquez collected two RBIs.
• Grant Svikulis (W, 2-0) earned the victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He allowed four runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.  He struck out five batters.  Devin DeBoer pitched for 1/3 inning in relief.  Nicholi Arbach tossed the final two innings in relief, allowing one run on one hit.
• Cody Ferguson took the loss after tossing 4 13/ innings.  He gave up 11 runs (two unearned) on 15 hits.  Felix Lopez worked for two outs.  Jacob Taft worked in the sixth inning, giving up five runs on eight hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director