March 5, 2023

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Baker (Kan.) rebounded from the game one setback by sweep Dakota State (S.D.) in a doubleheader Sunday at Sauder Field, securing a three-game series victory.  The Wildcats held off the Trojans by the score of 4-3 in the first game and earned a 5-0 shutout victory in game two.

Dakota State's season-high three-game winning streak came to an end, falling to 6-9 overall record.  Baker, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, improved to 7-8 overall record.

The Trojans continue their action on the road next weekend, playing in a four-game series at NCAA Division III Dallas Christian (Texas).  The series begins on Friday with a doubleheader, followed by another doubleheader on Saturday.  Both doubleheaders start at 12 p.m. on each day.

Game 1:  Baker (Kan.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

• The first game of the doubleheader is a seven-inning game.
• Baker earned the first lead of the game in the bottom second frame, fueled by Tanner Twillman's lead-off double.  John Raybourn blasted a 2-run home run with two outs, scoring Twillman to give BU a 2-0 lead.
• Dakota State snapped its scoring drought with a pair of runs in the top fourth to knot the game.  Jeremy Green and Walker Hultgren led off with back-to-back singles.  Mason Macaluso recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Green to third base and Hultgren to second base.
• Dawson Portner produced an RBI ground out to score Green as DSU trailed 2-1 in the top fourth with two outs. 
• Jace Pribyl drilled an RBI double to score Hultgren as the Trojans tied the game at 2-2 in the top fourth frame. 
• Baker regained their lead in the bottom fifth inning, scoring twice caused by DSU's defensive error for a 4-2 lead.
• Green led off the top sixth with a single and swiped to second base for DSU.  Macaluso smashed an RBI double to score Green as the Trojans trim BU's lead to 4-3.
• Dakota State was unable to score in the final inning, securing the victory for Baker.
• DSU outhit BU 7-5 in the game.  Both teams committed one defensive error.  The Wildcats left eight runners on base compared to the Trojans four runners left on base.
• Green was 2-of-3 at the plate with two runs scored for Dakota State.  Macaluso and Pribyl each had a double and an RBI.  Hultgren, Hakeem Yatim, and Seth Altwine each recorded a hit.  Portner collected an RBI. 
• Raybourn was 2-of-2 at the plate with a home run, single, walk and drove in two runs for Baker.  Twillman added a double, walk, and an RBI.  Quinton Graham and Cooper Karlin each had a single.
• Sam Tyrpa started the game on the pitching mound for the Trojans.  He tossed four innings and allowed two runs on four hits.  Nicholai Arbach (L, 1-2) took the setback after working for one out in the bottom fifth, giving up two runs (one unearned) on one hit.  Cole Westerlund pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings in relief.  He struck out three Baker's batters.
• Camden Karlin tossed a complete game victory for the Wildcats.  He allowed three runs on seven hits.

Game 2:  Baker (Kan.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

• Baker limited Dakota State to five singles in the three-game series finale, earning a 5-0 shutout victory.  The Wildcats' pitching staff recorded 10 strikeouts.
• After two-and-half scoreless innings, the Wildcats took the first lead in the bottom third.  Peyton Sparks led off with a single and advanced to second base caused by DSU's defensive error.  He advanced to third base after Graham's foul out to right field and scored home caused by Trojans' wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
• Baker poured in four runs in the bottom eighth inning as their lead grew to 5-0, highlighted by Darwin Oleaga's 2-RBI single and an RBI single from Brian Hawkins.
• Dakota State left a runner on base in the final inning, despite a single from Hultgren as the Wildcats secured the victory.
• Baker outhit Dakota State 6-5 in the game.  The Trojans committed three defensive errors while the Wildcts did not record a defensive error.  BU left eight runners on base while DSU left five runners on base.
• Hultgren went 2-of-4 at the plate with two singles for the Trojans.  Altwine, Green, and Chris Burke each added a single.  Green swiped one base.  Altwine had a walk.
• Hawkins had two singles and an RBI for the Wildcats.  Oleaga added a single and two RBIs.  Graham and Sparks each registered a single and a run scored.
• Grant Svikulis pitched seven innings for Dakota State.  He yielded an unearned run on three hits and recorded seven strikeouts.  JD Kirchner (L, 0-3) took the defeat after working for two outs in the bottom eighth after allowing four runs (two unearned) on three hits.  Mitsuki Shimonishi pitched the final out of the eighth inning.
• Caden Pogue collected the pitching win for Baker.  He pitched seven innings and limited the Trojans to three singles.  He struck out eight DSU's batters.  Evan Gottstein and Luke Smith each pitched one scoreless inning in relief an gave up a single.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director