April 17, 2023

Photos credit by 9 inning Photography

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak to 21 games in the first game of the North Star Athletic Association baseball doubleheader Monday afternoon with an 8-2 victory over Dickinson State (N.D.) at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.  The Trojans fell short in the four-game series finale for the first NSAA setback of the season by the score of 2-1 to the Blue Hawks.

Dakota State's season-high 21-game winning streak came to an end (second longest winning streak behind 22-game winning streak in 2007 season).  The Trojans are 28-13 overall record and 19-1 record in the league, currently tied for first place in the NSAA standings with No. 5 ranked Bellevue (Neb.).  Dickinson State is 15-23 overall record and 7-12 conference record.

DSU plays their season home opener Tuesday evening at Flynn Field as they host Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference nine-inning game.  First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 8, Dickinson State (N.D.) 2 – FINAL

• After a scoreless first inning in the first game (9-inning game), Dakota State plated four runs in the top second ignited by three straight singles from Mason Macaluso, Jace Pribyl, and Chris Burke to set up a bases loaded situation.
• Cade Wenninger collected an RBI after reaching safely on first base after DiSU's defensive error, allowing Macaluso to score for 1-0 DSU lead. 
• Another defensive miscue by the Blue Hawks to allow Pribyl and Burke to score for 3-0 Trojans lead in the top second inning, Portner earned an RBI after reaching safely on first base.
• Seth Altwine hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Wenninger to third and Portner to second, Ryan McDaniel produced an RBI ground out to score Wenninger to stretch DSU's lead to 4-0 in the top second.
• Dakota State smashed back-to-back home runs in the top third inning.  Jeremy Green opened with a double, followed by Mason Macaluso with a 2-run home run blast for 6-0 lead.
• Pribyl followed up with a solo home run to balloon the Trojans' lead to 7-0 in the top third frame.
• Dickinson State snapped their scoring drought with a run scored in the bottom fifth inning after recording the first two outs.  Kaiden Reeve hit a single.  Jacob Clinton, courtesy runner for Reeve, swiped to second base and scored home after Alberto Nieto's RBI single (Trojans led 7-1).
• The Blue Hawks added a run in the bottom seventh.  Cade Ostenson led off with a double and advanced to third base after pinch hitter Clay Prell's ground out.  Dawson Cortese produced an RBI ground out to score Ostenson as DiSU trailed 7-2.
• The Trojans added a run in the top eighth inning.  Burke led off with a single and advanced to second base after DiSU's wild pitch.  DSU's lead grew to 8-2 after Portner's RBI single to score Burke.
• Dickinson State left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for Dakota State.
• The Trojans outhit the Blue Hawks 13-7 in the game.  DiSU committed three different errors. 
• Macaluso paced DSU's offense attack with a home run, single, walk and drove in two runs.  Pribyl added a home run, single, walk, and RBI.  Portner had two singles and two RBIs. 
• Green tallied a double and single for Dakota State.  Burke had two singles and scored twice.  McDaniel had a single and an RBI.  Wenninger recorded a hit and an RBI.  Walker Hultgren had a single. 
• Derrick Calvillo had a double and single for Dickinson State.  Ostenson added a double and a run scored.  Balas Buckmaster had a single and swiped one base.  Clinton also had a stolen base.
• Nieto had two hits and an RBI for DiSU.  Reeve added a single.  Cortese earned an RBI. 
• Nicholai Arbach (W, 4-2) earned the victory on the pitching mound after working for 6 2/3 innings for Dakota State.  He allowed two runs on six hits and registered five strikeouts.  Cole Westerlund tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief, limiting the Blue Hawks to one hit.
• Trent Richter (L, 2-5) took the defeat after pitching four innings for Dickinson State.  He allowed seven runs (one unearned) on nine hits.  Jonathan Lerma worked for five innings in relief, allowing one run on four this.

Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 2, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

• Dickinson State scored twice in the bottom first half of the first inning (of a 7-inning game) caused by a pair of Dakota State's defensive errors.  Calvillo led off with a single.  Nathaniel Jilek, courtesy runner for Calvillo, advanced to second base after Buckmaster's single with one out.
• Wyatt Wilharm was hit-by-pitch with two outs to set up a bases loaded situation for the Blue Hawks.  The Trojans committed two straight errors to allow Jilek and Buckmaster to score for 2-0 DiSU lead.
• DSU snapped their scoring drought with a run in the top fourth inning, thanks to Burke's double.  Macaluso hit a single with one out and advanced to second base after Pribyl's ground out.
• Burke drilled an RBI double to score Macaluso as the Trojans trailed 2-1 in the top fourth.
• Dakota State attempted to make a comeback in the final inning, with bases loaded situation after singles from Pribyl and Burke and a hit-by-pitch on Portner with one out. 
• The Blue Hawks halted the Trojans' scoring chances as they recorded the next two outs to secure the victory.
• Both teams registered five hits in the game.  The Trojans committed three defensive miscues.
• Burke finished the game by going 2-of-2 at the plate with a double, single, and an RBI for Dakota State.  Macaluso added a single and run scored.  McDaniel and Pribyl each added a hit.
• Calvillo tallied two singles for Dickinson State.  Keanu Calamayan, Buckmaster, and Wilharm each added a single.  Cortese had a walk. 
• Luke Guest (L, 5-3) took the defeat, despite tossing a complete game for the Trojans.  He allowed two unearned runs on five hits and struck out seven DiSU's batters.
• Brannan Hogan (W, 2-4) earned the win after working for six-plus innings for the Blue Hawks.  He gave up one run on four hits.  Gabe Lundbeck (S, 3) collected a save after holding off DSU's comeback in the top seventh inning.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director