March 11, 2023

DALLAS, Texas – Dakota State (S.D.) fell short for a doubleheader sweep of Dallas Christian (Texas) Saturday at Dixon Field, earning a doubleheader split.  The Trojans won the first game, thanks to their fast start with a pair of home runs in the first inning, by the score of 7-3.  DSU was unable to hold on to their 3-0 lead late in the four-game series, as the Crusaders rallied back for a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Dakota State is 7-12 overall record.  Dallas Christian is 5-13 overall record.

The Trojans stay on the road Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader at Randall (Okla.).  First game is set for 12 p.m.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 7, Dallas Christian (Texas) 3 – FINAL

• Walker Hultgren ignited the Trojans' fast start in the opening inning by blasting a solo home run for a 1-0 lead.
• Jeremy Green extended his hitting streak to 18 games as he hit a single.  He was caught stealing for DSU.
• Mason Macaluso reached base with a walk for Dakota State with two outs.  Dawson Portner smashed a 2-run home run as their lead grew to 3-0 in the top first frame.
• Jaylen Camarillo hit a single with two outs for Dallas Christian in the bottom second.  Andrew Hickey followed up with an RBI double to score Camarillo as DCC trailed 3-1.
• Dallas Christian cut Dakota State's lead to 3-2 in the bottom fourth inning caused by a defensive error.
• Hultgren led off with a single in the top fifth inning for the Trojans.  Macaluso hit a 2-run home run to balloon DSU's lead to 5-2.
• With two outs in the top sixth frame, Ryan McDaniel recorded a walk and advanced Hakeem Yatim to second base (reached on base by a fielder's choice).  Hultgren drilled an RBI double to score Yatim to widen their lead to 6-2.
• The Crusaders set up a bases loaded situation in the bottom half of the sixth inning.  Marcos Franjul recorded an RBI walk as DCC trailed 6-3.
• Green led off the top seventh inning with a single, followed by back-to-back walks by Macaluso and Portner to set up a bases loaded situation for Dakota State.
• Jace Pribyl produced an RBI single to score Green for DSU's 7-3 lead in the top seventh inning.
• Dallas Christian was shut down in the bottom seventh inning, securing the victory for Dakota State.
• The Trojans tallied 11 hits in the game compared to the Crusaders five hits.  Both teams committed two defensive errors.
• Hultgren sparked Dakota State's offensive attack by going 3-of-3 at the plate with a home run, double, single and drove in two runs.  He also had a walk.  Green added two singles and a walk.
• Macaluso had a home run, two walks, and two RBIs for DSU.  Portner added a home run and two RBIs.  Chris Burke and Seth Altwine each had a single.
• Emmanuel Valenzuela recorded a double for the Crusaders.  Hickey had a double, walk, and an RBI.  Stefon Reyes registered four walks.  Franjul, Camarillo, and Brandon Andrews each had a hit.
• Grant Svikulis (W, 2-0) earned the victory for DSU.  He tossed 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits.  He struck out five DCC's batters. Mitsuki Shimonishi (S, 1) earned his first save of the season after pitching 2 1/3 innings in relief.  He gave up one run on one hit and registered three strikeouts.

Game 2 – Dallas Christian (Texas) 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Dallas Christian went scoreless in the first three innings in the four-game series finale.
• Portner reached on a walk in the top fourth inning for DSU with one out.  He advanced to second base after Pribyl's fly out.  Burke produced an RBI single to score Portner to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
• The Trojans plated two runs in the top sixth inning to widen their lead.  Pribyl and Burke hit back-to-back singles with one out.  Cade Wenninger hit a fly out to right field and advanced Pribyl to third base and Burke to second base.
• Altwine hit a 2-RBI single to score Pribyl and Burke as Dakota State's lead grew to 3-0 in the top sixth.
• Dallas Christian answered with three runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning.  Franjul reached the base with two outs.  Joel Stone drilled an RBI double to score Franjul as DCC trailed 3-1.
• Derek Lewis followed up with a walk.  Pinch hitter Cooper Ness hit a 2-RBI single to score Stone as the Crusaders knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom sixth.
• Dakota State was unable to score in the top seventh inning, despite a single from Green (hitting streak was extended to 19 games earlier in the game).
• Reyes led off the bottom seventh with a walk for the Crusaders.  Andrews blasted an RBI double to score Reyes to earn a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Trojans.
• Dakota State outhit Dallas Christian 9-7 in the game.
• Burke and Green each went 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles.  Burke collected an RBI.  Altwine had a single and two RBIs.  McDaniel, Wenninger, Pribyl, and Hultgren each added a single. 
• Andrews tallied a double and an RBI for Dallas Christian.  Stone added two hits and an RBI.  Ness had a single and two RBIs.  Valenzuela, and Riekkhen Bostick each tallied a hit.
• Will Clair started on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He worked for 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits.  He recorded seven strikeouts.  JD Kirchner (L, 0-4) took the setback after tossing an out in relief, giving up a run on one hit.
• Andrews tossed 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.  Hickey earned the victory after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, yielding a hit.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director