February 19, 2023

JOPLIN, Mo. – (RV) Columbia (Mo.) shut down Dakota State (S.D.) 7-0 in the final game of the Joplin (Mo.) baseball tournament Sunday afternoon at Joplin High School baseball field.  The Trojans finished the tournament with a 1-3 record, which included a 10-2 victory over Hastings (Neb.) earlier Sunday to snap their five-game losing skid.

Dakota State is 2-6 overall record on the season.  Columbia, receiving votes in the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national preseason poll and qualified for the national tournament's opening round last season, won their seventh straight game to raise their overall record to 10-1. 

DSU continues their action next weekend as they play in a four-game series at Central Christian (Kan.) in McPherson, Kan.  on Feb. 24-25.

(RV) Columbia (Mo.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

• Both teams did not score in the opening inning.
• Columbia poured in four runs in the top second frame with two outs.  With bases loaded situation, Devyn Lopez recorded an RBI walk to give CC a 1-0 lead.
• The Cougars followed up with bases-clearing 3-RBI double by Tyler Renn to balloon their lead to 4-0 in the top second frame.
• Jeremy Green and Dawson Portner each recorded a single in the bottom half of the second inning and could not score for Dakota State.
• After Brayden McGinnis and Duffin Makings produced a single each, David Dell hit an RBI single to score McGinnis to make it 5-0 in favor of Columbia.
• Renn and Cayden Nicoletto hit back-to-back RBI singles in the top sixth inning to make it 7-0 Cougars.
• Dakota State was unable to score in the final inning, despite collecting three singles from Green, Mason Macaluso, and Portner.
• Columbia outhit Dakota State 10-6 in the game.  The Trojans committed two defensive errors.  The Cougars left nine runners on base compared to DSU five runners left on base.
• Green and Portner each were 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles for Dakota State.  Ryan McDaniel and Macaluso each added a single. 
• Renn was 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single, and drove in four runs for CC.  Nicoletto added two singles and an RBI.  McGinnis had two singles.  Lopez and Dell each had a hit and an RBI.
• JD Kirchner (L, 0-2) took the setback on the pitching mound for DSU.  He allowed five runs on five hits and registered five strikeouts.  Mitsuki Shimonishi worked for 2 2/3 innings in relief, giving up two runs on five hits.  Cole Westerlund tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief.
• Dan Fick (W, 3-0) tossed a complete game victory for Columbia.  He yielded the Trojans to six singles and registered six strikeouts. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director