April 8, 2023

La CROSSE, Wis. – The red-hot Dakota State (S.D.) baseball team continue to roll in the North Star Athletic Association play, stretching their conference best start record with an undefeated 16-0 record after their four-game series sweep over Viterbo (Wis.) Saturday afternoon at Viterbo Outdoor Activities Center.  The Trojans, who produced the NAIA's best earned run average at 2.99 after this weekend, defeated the V-Hawks by the scores of 13-3 in seven innings and 5-2.

Dakota State's winning streak grew to 18 games (longest winning streak since the 2007 season with 22 consecutive wins), raising their overall record to 25-12 and remained in sole possession for first place in the North Star conference standings at 16-0 NSAA record.  The Trojans were the home team in the four-game series, despite unfavorable playing field conditions in Madison, S.D.   Viterbo fell to 8-23 overall record and 6-10 record in the league.

Dakota State is scheduled face Dickinson State (N.D.) in another NSAA four-game series next weekend.  Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics website on dsuathletics.com for updates on the baseball schedule for site and game times.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 13, Viterbo (Wis.) 3 – FINAL/7 innings

• Dakota State highlighted a nine-run fourth inning offensive explosion in the nine-inning contest, ending the game in seven innings due to 10-run mercy rule.
• Kendal Hofer opened the game with a lead-off single for the V-Hawks.  He advanced to second base after a defensive error by the Trojans.  Specner Hans drilled an RBI double to score Hofer to give VU a 1-0 lead.
• The Trojans answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning.  Walker Hultgren recorded a walk with one out.  Jeremy Green hit a fielder's choice, while Hultgren advanced to third base after VU's defensive error.
• Mason Macaluso drilled a 2-RBI double to score Hultgren and Green to give Dakota State a 2-1 lead in the bottom first frame.
• Ryan Brooks recorded a walk with one out in the top second inning for VU.  He swiped to second base.  Chad Herrera reached on base after DSU's defensive error to advance Brooks to third base.
• Hofer hit an RBI single to score Brooks as the V-Hawks knotted the game at 2-2 in the top second.
• With bases loaded situation with two outs in the bottom third inning, Chris Burke produced 2-RBI single to score Green and Daniel Lesher (courtesy runner for catcher Ryan McDaniel) as DSU regained their lead at 4-2.
• Hans earned an RBI single in the top fourth inning to score Herrera (who reached first base after DSU's defensive miscue).  The V-Hawks trailed 4-3.
• Dawson Portner led off the bottom fourth with a single for DSU.  Seth Altwine reached safely on first base after VU's defensive miscue, advancing Portner to second base.  McDaniel added a single to set up a bases loaded situation.
• DSU extended their lead to 5-3 as Hultgren recorded an RBI walk to score Portner.  Green followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Altwine for 6-3 DSU lead. 
• Macaluso hit a 2-RBI double to score Lesher and Hultgren as Dakota State's lead grew to 8-3 in the bottom fourth.  Jace Pribyl followed up with an RBI single to score Macaluso to extend their lead to 9-3.
• With another bases loaded situation after Burke's single and hit-by-pitch on Dalton Nelson, Portner hit a 2-RBI single to score Burke and pinch runner Michael Buchmann for 11-3 DSU lead.
• McDaniel added an RBI single to score Nelson for 12-3 Trojans lead.  Portner advanced to third base on the same play and scored home after a defensive error by the V-Hawks to widen DSU's lead to 13-3.
• Viterbo left bases loaded in the top seventh inning as Dakota State secured the victory.
• DSU outhit VU 11-7 in the game.  The V-Hawks committed five defensive errors compared to the Trojans three defensive errors.  VU left 10 runners on base compared to DSU three runners left on base.
• Macaluso fueled the Trojans' offense with two doubles and drove in four runs.  Burke and Portner each added two singles and two RBIs.  McDaniel tallied two hits and an RBI.  Hultgren had two walks and an RBI.  Pribyl had a single and an RBI.  Nelson recorded a hit.  Green recorded a hit and an RBI.
• Hans led the V-Hawks with two hits and two RBIs.  Hofer added two singles and an RBI.  Frankie McGuire and Gavin Daniel each had two singles.  Brooks swiped one bagse.
• Nicholai Arbach (W, 2-2) earned the victory after pitching four innings for Dakota State.  He allowed three runs (one unearned) on five hits.  He recorded four strikeouts.  Cole Westerlund (S, 2) earned the save after tossing three scoreless innings in relief, yielding the V-Hawks to two hits.
• Ben Strassman (L, 0-6) took the setback on the pitching mound for Viterbo.  He gave up 13 runs (six unearned) on 10 hits.  Kyle Burns worked two scoreless innings in relief.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Viterbo (Wis.) 2 – FINAL

• Despite trailing 2-1 in the four-game series finale, Dakota State used a late surge to complete the series sweep of Viterbo.
• DSU's Green reached first base on a defensive error by the V-Hawks.  He advanced to second base after a balk from the V-Hawks.  Macaluso followed up with a walk.
• Pribyl blasted an RBI double to score Green to give the Trojans the first lead of the game at 1-0 in the bottom first frame.
• VU answered with a run in the top second inning, thanks to a lead-off triple by Marcus Hornacek.  Conley O'Keefe reached safely on first base after DSU's defensive error, collecting an RBI to score Hornacek as the V-Hawks knotted the game at 1-1.
• Viterbo scored a run in the top fourth inning to take the lead.  Carson Trumpold led off with a walk.  Ryan Mesa, pinch runner for Trumpold, advanced to second base after a ground out by Hornacek. 
• Gavin Daniel reached on base after DSU's defensive error in the top fourth, advancing Mesa to third base.  A wild pitch by the Trojans allowed Mesa to score for 2-1 Viterbo lead.
• Dakota State piled up three runs in the bottom fifth inning to regain their lead at 4-2.
• The Trojans added a run in the bottom sixth frame, caused by a defensive error by the V-Hawks.
• Viterbo left two runners on base in the top seventh inning, securing the victory for Dakota State.
• Both teams registered five hits and three defensive errors in the game.  VU left eight runners on base compared to DSU four runners left on base.
• Pribyl led the Trojans with a double, single, and an RBI.  Hultgren, Macaluso, and Portner each had a single.  McDaniel, Green, and Nelson each collected an RBI.  Altwine swiped one base.
• Hornacek had a triple for Viterbo.  O'Keefe had a hit and an RBI.  Hofer and Trumpold each recorded a single.
• Luke Guest (W, 5-2) earned the victory after pitching six innings for Dakota State.  He allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits.  He struck out six VU's batters.  JD Kirchner (S, 4) tossed a scoreless seventh inning for his fourth save of the season.
• Anthony Sanchez (L, 1-2) took the defeat for Viterbo.  He pitched five innings and gave up four runs (three unearned) on three hits.  He had five strikeouts.  Brandon Jaenke worked the sixth inning in relief, allowing an unearned run on two hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director