February 17, 2024

JOPLIN, Mo. – Graceland (Iowa) from the Heart of America Athletic Conference halted Dakota State's (S.D.) seven-game winning streak in the Joplin (Mo.) baseball tournament Saturday afternoon at Joplin High School baseball field.  The Yellowjackets won the pitchers' duel by the score of 2-1, where each team was held to four hits in the game.

Dakota State fell to 7-1 overall record and finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.  Graceland improved to 5-2 overall record.

The Trojans continue their action next weekend as they play their final preseason tournament.  DSU returns to Kansas City, Mo., for a four-game tournament schedule in the Midwest Collision hosted by Baker (Kan.).  Dakota State opens the tournament on Feb. 24 versus Morningside (Iowa) at 11:30 a.m. and (RV) Doane (Neb.) at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Trojans take on Jamestown (N.D.) at 10:30 a.m. and William Penn (Iowa) at 3:30 p.m.

Graceland (Iowa) 2, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

Graceland took the first lead of the game in the opening inning.  Keith Whitaker led off with a single and advanced to second base after Jacob Lopez's sacrifice bunt.  Zach Tanabe followed up with an RBI single to score Whitaker for GU 1-0 lead.

The Trojans answered with a run in the bottom half of the second frame.  Ryan McDaniel started with a walk.  Cory Brownson added a walk and advanced catcher's courtesy runner Seth Altwine to second base.  Dawson Portner recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Altwine to third base and Brownson to second base.

Aidan Perry reached safely on base with two outs after the Yellowjackets committed a defensive error, allowing Altwine to score as DSU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom second.

Elio Narvaez highlighted the top fourth inning with a lead-off double for Graceland.  JD Woodruff reached safely on base after DSU's defensive miscue, allowing Narvaez to score home to give the Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead.

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring chance in the bottom fifth, despite a walk from Jeremy Green and swiped to second base with one out. 

The Trojans left a runner on third base in the bottom sixth inning and could not score.  McDaniel led off the bottom frame with a single.  Altwine, courtesy runner for McDaniel, swiped to second base and advanced to third base with two outs.

Dakota State was unable to get a runner on base in the bottom seventh, securing the victory for Graceland.

The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the Yellowjackets five runners left on base.  Each pitching staff registered a total of 13 strikeouts in the game (26 combined strikeouts).

Green recorded a double and a walk for Dakota State.  Hultgren and McDaniel each added a single.  McDaniel and Brownson each recorded a walk.  Ned Ceklic had a hit. 

Green and Altwine each recorded a stolen base for the Trojans.

Narvaez led the Yellowjackets with a double.  Tanabe had a single and an RBI.  Whitaker tallied a single.

Nicholai Arbach (L, 1-1) took the setback, despite throwing a season-high 10 strikeouts in six innings of work for Dakota State.  He allowed two runs (one unearned) on three hits.  JD Kirchner tossed a scoreless seventh inning in relief.  He registered three strikeouts.

Rafael Severino (W, 1-0) earned the victory on the pitching mound after working for five innings.  He yielded one unearned run on four hits.  He recorded eight strikeouts.  Stephen Eskridge (S, 1) collected a save after tossing two shutout innings in relief.  He struck out five DSU's batters.