April 16, 2023

DICKINSON, N.D. – Walker Hultgren set the Dakota State's (S.D.) single-season record for most doubles Sunday afternoon, extending the NAIA's best winning streak to 20 games after the North Star Athletic Association doubleheader sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.) at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.  The Trojans held off the Blue Hawks 5-4 in the first game and earned an 8-0 shutout victory in the second game.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 27-12 and remained perfect in the North Star conference play with an 18-0 record.  Dickinson State fell to 14-22 overall record and 6-11 record in the league.

Both teams wrap up their four-game series with another doubleheader Monday.  First game is set for 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time).

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Dickinson State (N.D.) 4 – FINAL

• Hultgren set the DSU single season record for most doubles with 20 after hitting a double in the top first inning with one out.  He broke the previous single season record held by Kameron Bryant with 19 doubles in 2022.  DSU was unable to score in the first inning of a nine-inning game.
• After two-and-half scoreless innings, Dickinson State (N.D.) earned the first lead of the game with two runs scored after recording the first two outs in the bottom third.  Keanu Calmayan recorded a walk, followed by Balas Buckmaster's single to advance Calmayan to second base.
• Dawson Cortese drilled a 2-RBI triple to score Calmayan and Buckmaster to give DiSU a 2-0 lead in the bottom third.
• Dakota State answered with three runs in the top half of the fourth inning.  Dawson Portner and Seth Altwine hit back-to-back singles to start the inning.  Each advanced one base after DiSU's wild pitch.
• Ryan McDaniel produced a 2-RBI single to score Portner and Altwine as the Trojans knotted the game at 2-2 in the top second.  Hultgren followed up with a single and advanced courtesy runner Daniel Lesher (for McDaniel) to third base).
• Jeremy Green recorded an RBI, despite a double play, and scored Lesher to give the Trojans a 3-2 lead in the top fourth.
• Jace Pribyl was hit-by-pitch to start the top fifth for Dakota State.  He advanced to second base after Chris Burke's ground out.  Dalton Nelson hit an RBI single to score Pribyl as DSU extended their lead to 4-2.
• Dickinson State plated two runs in the bottom fourth to tie the game.  Derek Calvillo was hit-by-pitch and advanced to second base after a single from Calmayan.  The Blue Hawks reduced their deficit to 4-3 after an RBI single to score Calvillo (Calmayan advanced to second base followed by a passed ball by the Trojans to advance to third base).
• Cortese collected an RBI fielder's choice to score Calamyan as DiSU tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom fourth frame.
• Dakota State regained their lead with a run scored in the top fifth inning.  McDaniel led off with a walk.  Lesher, courtesy runner for McDaniel, swiped to second base and advanced to third base after a defensive error by the Blue Hawks.
• Green hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score McDaniel as the Trojans grabbed a 5-4 lead in the top sixth.
• Dakota State held Dickinson State to one hit in the final three innings, securing the victory.
• The Trojans outhit the Blue Hawks 10-6 in the game.  Both teams committed a defensive error.  DSU left eight runners on base compared to the Blue Hawks seven runners left on base.
• Hultgren tallied two hits in the game for Dakota State.  Pribyl added two singles and a run scored.  Green and Nelson each had a single and an RBI.  McDaniel tallied a single and two RBIs.  Lesher scored twice and swiped one base.  Burke, Portner, and Altwine each recorded a hit. 
• Buckmaster led the Blue Hawks with three singles and an RBI.  Cortese added a triple and collected a game-high three RBIs.  Calmayan and Wyatt Wilharm each registered a hit.
• Grant Svikulis (W, 5-1) earned the victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits.  He recorded six strikeouts.  JD Kirchner (S, 5) earned the save after tossing 3 2/3 shutout innings in relief, yielding the Blue Hawks to one hit.  He struck out four DiSU batters.
• Kobe Krenz started the game on the pitching mound, working for four innings for DiSU.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and recorded five strikeouts.  Cade Kazmirski (L, 0-1) took the setback in relief, pitching four innings and allowing two runs on two hits.  Gabe Lundbeck tossed a shutout in the ninth inning.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 8, Dickinson State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL

• Dakota State jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed for the rest of the game to earn an 8-0 victory in a seven-inning contest.
• McDaniel led off the game with a walk for the Trojans.  Hultgren smashed a 2-run home run to score courtesy runner Lesher for a 2-0 DSU lead.
• Green was hit-by-pitch, swiped to second base, and advanced to third base after DiSU's passed ball.  Mason Macaluso recorded a walk.  Pribyl added a walk, while Green scored home after another passed ball by the Blue Hawks for 3-0 Dakota State lead.
• The Trojans set up a bases loaded situation after Burke's walk.  Nelson produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Macaluso as DSU's lead grew to 4-0 in the top first inning.
• Portner drilled a 2-RBI double to score Burke and Nelson in the top third inning, stretching DSU's lead to 6-0.
• Dakota State made it 7-0 in the top sixth inning after a lead-off solo home run by Portner.
• Green was hit-by-pitch to lead off the top seventh for the Trojans.  He swiped to third base.  Pribyl hit an RBI double to score Green to extend DSU's lead to 8-0.
• Dickinson State did not past second base throughout the game as Trojan Sam Tyrpa retired the final 16 batters (16 consecutive outs) to secure the victory.
• Pribyl collected two doubles and an RBI for Dakota State.  Hultgren added a home run, walk, and two RBIs.  Portner registered a home run, double, and tallied a game-high three RBIs.  Macaluso registered two walks.  Green scored twice and swiped two bases.
• Wilharm had a double for Dickinson State.  Buckmaster added a single.  Cade Ostenson had a walk.
• Tyrpa (W, 7-0) earned a complete game victory for the Trojans.  He struck out eight Blue Hawk batters and issued just one walk.
• Richie Cortese (L, 1-2) recorded the defeat on the pitching mound for DiSU.  He allowed six runs on two hits and gave up six walks.  John Koronka worked for two innings in relief, limiting the Trojans to one hit.  Rylan Richards also pitched two innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director