February 22, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Feb. 22, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan baseball team (7-1 overall record) continues their action this weekend as they play their final preseason tournament tune-up before swinging into full action of North Star Athletic Association baseball contests.  The Trojans play a four-game schedule in the Wildcat Classic, hosted by Baker (Kan.) at PBT Homefield Baseball Complex (1501 N 90th Street) in Kansas City, Mo.

Dakota State opens the Wildcat Classic tournament on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. versus Morningside (Iowa) (3-1 overall record), followed by another opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference Doane (Neb.) (6-0 overall record, receiving votes in the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) at 2 p.m.

DSU wraps up the preseason tournament Sunday against next year's North Star Athletic Association member Jamestown (N.D.) (8-0 overall record) at 10:30 a.m. and William Penn (Iowa) (2-5 overall record) of the Heart of America Athletic Conference at 2:30 p.m. 

Dakota State extended their winning streak to seven games after winning the first three games in the Joplin (Mo.) baseball tournament last weekend.  The Trojans defeated Kansas Christian 13-3 and William Woods (Mo.) 9-4 on the first day of the tournament on Feb. 16.  DSU added another victory against KCC 16-3 on Feb. 17, before suffering the first setback of the season in a pitcher's duel against Graceland (Iowa) 2-1.

Next Up:  Dakota State stays on the road as they begin the month of March with a four-game series at Sterling (Kan.) of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The doubleheader starts at 12 p.m. on both days on March 1 and March 2 in Sterling, Kan.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) plays three opponents from the Great Plains Athletic Conference—Morningside (Iowa), (RV) Doane (Neb.), and Jamestown (N.D.)—in the Wildcat Classic this weekend. 
+ Morningside edged out Dakota State 4-1 in last year's meeting in the Joplin (Mo.) tournament.  The Trojans are seeking for their first win over the Mustangs since Feb. 11, 2007, with a doubleheader sweep at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.
+ DSU is facing a team (Doane, Neb.) that is listed in the receiving votes (RV) section of the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll for the first time this season.
+ Dakota State and Jamestown (N.D.) will meet for the first time since April 28, 2018, where they met for the final time in the North Star Athletic Association action.  Both teams were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference, while Jamestown will return to the North Star conference next season for one season.
+ DSU is seeking for their first win over the Jimmies since April 12, 2015, by the score of 9-4 in Jamestown, N.D. 
+ William Penn (Iowa) defeated Dakota State in the last meeting last season in the Joplin tournament.  The Statesmen won by the score of 4-1.  The last time DSU defeated WPU was during the 2006 season.
+ Dakota State begins the month of March with a pair of four-game non-conference series before playing their North Star Athletic Association baseball home opener at Flynn Field versus Mayville State (N.D.) on March 15-16.
+ The Trojans are 4-0 record on the road and 3-1 record on neutral sites this season.
 
Noteworthy...
HARDIE HIT DSU COACHING MILESTONE:  Dakota State baseball head coach Derrion Hardie reached another coaching milestone at Dakota State (S.D.) last weekend.  After reaching his 300th coaching victory during DSU's series victory at Avila (Mo.), Hardie earned his 100th career victory as DSU baseball head coach after their 13-3 rout over Kansas Christian in the Joplin (Mo.) tournament on Feb. 16.

TROJANS IN THE NAIA RANKS:   According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, Dakota State ranks 13th in the NAIA in earned runs average.  The Trojans post an ERA of 2.84 prior to this weekend's contests, allowing 18 earned runs in 57 innings.  DSU is also fourth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings with 12.32 K/9.  Offensively, Dakota State is seventh in the NAIA in batting average of .355 and fifth in slugging percentage of .629. 
 
DSU LEADS NORTH STAR CONFERENCE IN PITCHING AND BATTING:  Dakota State currently lead the North Star Athletic Association in pitching and batting categories.  The Trojans lead the league in earned runs average of 2.84, strikeouts per nine innings of 12.32 K/9, and total strikeouts with 78 strikeouts.   DSU leads the conference with .355 batting average, .438 on-base percentage, and .629 slugging percentage.  The Trojans also lead the league in runs batted in with 69 RBIs, 24 doubles, and 14 home runs.

DSU BASEBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM OPENS MONDAY:  The Dakota State University Trojan baseball developmental team is slated to begin their 2024 season on Monday with a doubleheader at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. in Mitchell, S.D.  The Trojans then will return to action on March 18 with a doubleheader at NCAA Division II Augustana (S.D.) in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Trojans stay undefeated with a pair of victories
Joplin, Mo. (Feb. 16, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) blasted seven extra-base hits to open the Joplin (Mo.) tournament with a 13-3 victory over Kansas Christian at Wendell Redden Stadium. 
 
The Trojans kicked off the game with four runs in the first inning and never trailed in the game.  DSU outhit the Falcons 11-6 in the game. 

Ryan McDaniel powered DSU's offense attack with three hits and drove in a game-high five runs.  Ned Ceklic and Hunter Vikemyr each added a hit and two RBIs.  Aidan Perry added a double and an RBI.  Walker Hultgren, Cade Wenninger, and Dawson Portner each added a hit. 

Vikemyr (W, 2-0) earned the victory after working for 4 2/3 innings for the Trojans.  He recorded eight strikeouts.  Collin Grimmel tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Dakota State extended their winning streak to six games after defeating William Woods (Mo.) 9-4 in the second game of the tournament.  The Trojans highlighted with another fast start in the first inning with four runs and never trailed in the game.

McDaniel tallied three hits and an RBI for DSU.  Hultgren and Cory Brownson added two hits and two RBIs.    Portner and Jeremy Green each had a hit and an RBI.  Sam Tyrpa earned the victory after working for five innings with eight strikeouts.  Alex Swack worked for two innings on the pitching circle in relief.

DSU splits on final day of Joplin (Mo.) tournament
Joplin, Mo. (Feb. 17, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) poured in 16 runs, thanks to their eight extra-bases hits to earn a season series sweep of Kansas Christian by the score of 16-3 at Joplin high school baseball field.  The victory extended DSU's winning streak to seven games. 

The Trojans opened the game with another fast start with four runs.  DSU added five runs in the third and six runs in the seventh inning.

Ryan McDaniel led the DSU's offense attack with four hits.  Walker Hultgren and Cory Brownson each added two hits and three RBIs.  Cassidy Watt and Aidan Perry each had two hits.  Will Clair (W, 2-0) earned the victory after tossing six innings and registered seven strikeouts.  Treyten Kolar pitched a shutout seventh inning in relief.  

DSU's seven-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 setback in a pitcher's duel with Graceland (Iowa) in the tournament's finale.  The Yellowjackets scored a run in the top fourth inning to break the 1-1 tie into a 2-1 lead.   Jeremy Green, Hultgren, McDaniel, and Ned Ceklic each recorded a hit.

Nicholai Arbach (L, 1-1) took the defeat after pitching six innings.  He struck out a season-high 10 batters.  JD Kirchner pitched two scoreless innings in relief, collecting three strikeouts.

Dakota State (S.D.) leaders in the North Star
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 22, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, three Dakota State (S.D.) hitters leads the top three in batting average.  Ryan McDaniel leads the conference with .500 batting average, followed by Aidan Perry with a .462 batting average, and Walker Hultgren with .44 batting average.

Jeremy Green leads the league with 13 runs batted in for the Trojans.  Hunter Vikemyr smashes three home runs this season, which ties with Jake Lacey of Bellevue (Neb.) for most home runs in the conference.  McDaniel, Cory Brownson, and Hultgren each have two home runs this season, tying for third most home runs in the conference. 

Vikemyr leads the North Star conference with 1.69 earned run average and fifth in total strikeouts with 15 for DSU.  Nicholai Arbach is fourth in the league with 2.25 ERA and second in total strikeouts with 19 strikeouts.  Vikemyr and Will Clair also tied the conference with two wins this season.  Sam Tyrpa records 16 strikeouts this season, which ranks fourth in the North Star conference.

2024 DSU Baseball team leaders

· Hits:  Ryan McDaniel—13 hits

· Batting Average:  Ryan McDaniel—.500 batting average (13-of-26 at-bats)

· Slugging Percentage:  Ryan McDaniel—.885 slugging percentage (7 singles, 4 doubles, 2 home runs)

· Runs Batted In (RBIs):  Jeremy Green—13 RBIs

· Doubles:  Jeremy Green—5 doubles

· Triples:  Jeremy Green—1 triple

· Home Runs:  Hunter Vikemyr—3 home runs

· Total Bases:  Ryan McDaniel—23 total bases

· Runs Scored:  Aidan Perry, Walker Hultgren—9 runs

· Walks:  Bubba Thompson—6 walks

· Hit-by-Pitch:  Dawson Portner—2 hit-by-pitches

· Stolen Bases: Jeremy Green—3 stolen bases

· On-base percentage:  Ryan McDaniel—.536 on-base percentage

· Innings Pitched:  Nicholai Arbach—12 innings

· Earned Runs Average (ERA):  Hunter Vikemyr—1.69earned run average (2 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings)

· Strikeouts (Pitching):   Nicholai Arbach—19 strikeouts

· Complete Games (Pitching):   N/A

· Wins:  Will Clair, Hunter Vikemyr—2 wins

· Saves:  JD Kirchner—1 save

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