February 16, 2024

JOPLIN, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) blasted seven extra-base hits – four doubles and three home runs – in the Joplin (Mo.) baseball tournament's opener Friday at Wendell Redden Stadium, fueling to a 13-3 victory over Kansas Christian.  The victory extended the Trojans' winning streak to five games and remained undefeated this season.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 5-0.  Kansas Christian fell to 0-5 overall record.  Both teams will play their second meeting Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Joplin High School baseball field.

The victory also gave head coach Derrion Hardie his 100th career victory at Dakota State.

The Trojans continue their action in the tournament at 1:30 p.m. versus William Woods (Mo.) of the America Midwest Conference.

Dakota State (S.D.) 13, Kansas Christian 3 – FINAL

Dakota State used a fast start in the opening with four runs.  Jeremy Green hit a double with one out and advanced to third base on KCC's passed ball.  Bubba Thompson added a walk.  Walker Hultgren reached safely on base caused by a defensive error by the Falcons, allowing Green to score for DSU 1-0 lead.

Ryan McDaniel smashed a 3-run home run to balloon Dakota State's lead to 4-0 in the bottom first frame. 

McDaniel hit his second home run of the game in the bottom third inning.  He hit a solo home run to extend the Trojans' lead to 5-0.  It was his 14^th career home run at Dakota State.

The Falcons snapped their scoring drought with a pair of runs in the top fourth inning.  Marcos Franjul drilled an RBI double to score Drew Lippold who led off the inning with a single (DSU led 5-1). 

Kansas Christian trimmed DSU's lead to 5-2 as Jesus Reyes hit an RBI single to score Franjul in the top fourth.

The Trojans answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning.  Dawson Portner led off with a single and swiped to second base.  Ned Ceklic and Hunter Vikemry each added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.

Green hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Porter to put Dakota State up 6-2 in the bottom fourth.

The Falcons scored a run in the top fifth inning from Lippold's RBI single (DSU led 6-3).

Dakota State plated five runs in the bottom fifth.  After Hultgren's walk and advancing to second and third bases after a pair of KCC's wild pitches, McDaniel produced an RBI single to score Hultgren for DSU's 7-3 lead.

The Trojans made it 8-3 after catcher's courtesy runner Michael Buchmann scored from KCC's wild pitch in the bottom fifth.

With Portner on second base after the Falcons' defensive error with two outs, Aidan Perry hit an RBI double to score Portner to balloon DSU's lead to 9-3 in the bottom fifth.  Vikemyr hit his third home run of the season, smashing a 2-run home run for Trojans' 11-3 lead (Portner scored).

Ceklic produced a 2-RBI single in the bottom sixth inning to expand Dakota State' lead to 13-3.

The Falcons left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for the Trojans.

DSU outhit KCC 11-6 in the game.  Kansas Christian committed four defensive errors compared to Dakota State two defensive errors.

McDaniel finished the game by going 3-of-5 at the plate with two home runs and drove in a game-high five runs for the Trojans.  Green added two doubles, an RBI, and a stolen base.  Vikemyr had a home run and two RBIs.  Hultgren recorded a single, walk, and scored twice.  Ceklic collected a hit and two RBI.  Perry had a double, RBI, walk, and a stolen base. 

Cade Wenninger recorded a double for DSU.  Portner added a hit, two stolen bases, and scored three times.
Franjul led the Falcons' offense with two doubles and an RBI.  Lippold added two hits and an RBI.  Reyes had a single and an RBI.

Vikemyr (W, 2-0) earned the victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He worked for 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on five hits.  He struck out eight KCC's batters.  Collin Grimmel pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding the Falcons to one hit.  He recorded five strikeouts.

Leandro Mendez (L, 0-1) took the defeat after tossing four innings.  He gave up eight runs (two unearned) on five hits.  He recorded five strikeouts.  Tommy Thomas pitched two innings in relief, allowing five runs (two unearned) on six hits).  He had three strikeouts.