May 9, 2022

Photo credit by Chet Mills Photography of Lake Mills, Iowa

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its improbable run in the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Postseason Tournament Monday afternoon at Forest City High School Baseball Field, hosted by Waldorf (Iowa).  The second-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) faced third-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.) for the first time this season, vying for a spot to the NSAA Baseball Championship Game.  The Trojans defeated the Blue Hawks 5-4, thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Walker Hultgren to advance to their first-ever NSAA postseason tournament's championship game in program history.

Dakota State won their fourth straight elimination game, despite losing the opening round game on May 6.  DaSU lifted their overall record to 33-17, most overall wins since program history 38 wins in 2007. 

It was the first time since the 2012 season that the Trojans played in the conference tournament's championship game (DaSU fell to Arizona Christian in the Association of Independent Institutions – A.I.I. – conference tournament's game in San Marcos, Calif.). 

The defeat ended the Blue Hawks' season with an overall record of 20-24.  Both teams did not play a series earlier this season due to a snowstorm that impacted the Upper Midwest region.

Dakota State is set to face the top-seeded and nationally ranked No. 7 Bellevue (Neb.) in the NSAA Baseball Postseason Tournament's Championship Game.  First pitch is set for 12 p.m.  The Trojans will need to beat the Bruins twice to secure the championship and receive the league's automatic bid to the NAIA Baseball National Tournament's Opening Round.

DaSU is 4-1 record in the conference tournament while BU is 3-0 record. 

Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Dickinson State (N.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Dickinson State grabbed its first lead in the opening inning.  Jacob Clinton led off with a walk, followed by Cade Ostenson's single to advance Clinton to second base.
• Dawson Cortese produced an RBI single to score Clinton to give the Blue Hawks a 1-0 lead.
• The Trojans quickly answered with lead-off home run by Ryan McDaniel in the bottom half of the first frame, tying the game at 1-1.  It was his fifth home run this season, his eighth career home run at Dakota State.
• The Blue Hawks regained their lead at 2-1 in the top third inning after a lead-off home run by Ostenson.
• DaSU answered with a run in the bottom third with two outs.  Jace Pribyl hit a single.  Noah Angstadt added a single with two outs and advanced Pribyl to second base. 
• Kameron Bryant hit an RBI single to score Pribyl as Dakota State tied the game for the second time at 2-2 in the bottom third.
• Dakota State set up a bases loaded situation in the bottom fifth inning, highlighted by McDaniel's double, Angstadt with a fielder's choice as Josh Van Beek was tagged out at home after hitting a single with one out and a walk by Bryant.
• Mason Macaluso was hit-by-pitch and collected an RBI to score Bennett Osborn (courtesy runner for McDaniel), giving the Trojans a 3-2 lead in the bottom fifth.
• Chris Burke led off the bottom sixth with a single for Dakota State.  After a pair of fly outs, Van Beek hit a single to advance Burke to second base.  McDaniel produced an RBI single to score Burke as the Trojans stretched its lead to 4-2.
• Derrick Calvillo hit a solo home run with two outs in the top seventh inning as DiSU trimmed their deficit to 4-3.
• With two runners on second and third bases for the Blue Hawks in the top eighth inning with one out, Clinton hit an RBI ground out to score Richie Cortese to tie the game at 4-4.
• Angstadt reached on base by a walk or the Trojans in the bottom ninth.  Bryant reached safely on base caused by DiSU's defensive miscue and advanced Angstadt to second base.
• Walker Hultgren hit the game-winning RBI single to score Angstadt, propelling the Trojans to their first-ever NSAA Baseball Postseason Tournament's championship game in program history.
• Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 13-11 in the game.  The Blue Hawks left 12 runners on base compared to the Trojans eight runners left on base.
• McDaniel powered DaSU's offense by going 3-of-5 at the plate with a home run, double, single and drove in two runs.  Bryant and W. Hultgren each added two singles and an RBI.  Van Beek collected two singles.
• Macaluso extended its single-season school record to 73 hits after collecting a single and an RBI for Dakota State.  Burke and Pribyl each had a single.  McDaniel, Angstadt, Burke, Pribyl, and Osborn each scored a run.
• Ostenson and Calvillo each had a home run, single, and an RBI for the Blue Hawks.  D. Cortese added a single and an RBI.  Robert Encinas and Kobe Krenz each had two hits.
• Nicholai Arbach tossed 6 2/3 innings on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He allowed three runs on 10 hits and registered seven strikeouts.  Mitsuki Shimonishi worked for 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up a run on one hit and recorded two strikeouts.
• Cole Westerlund (W, 3-2) earned the victory after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.  He had two strikeouts, racking up a team school single season record of 441 strikeouts.
• Jonathan Lerma pitched six innings and gave up four runs on 11 hits for Dickinson State.  Cade Kazmirski (L, 1-1) took the setback after working 2 1/3 innings in relief.  He allowed an unearned run on two hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director