February 25, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to halt their losing skid Sunday morning as they fell to Jamestown (N.D.) 7-3 on the second day of the Wildcat Classic at PBR Homefield Baseball Complex, hosted by Baker (Kan.).  The Jimmies outhit the Trojans 9-5 in the game.

Dakota State fell to 7-4 overall record.  Jamestown raised their overall record to 10-1.  The Jimmies return to the North Star Athletic Association next season.

The Trojans close out the Wildcat Classic tournament versus William Penn (Iowa) of the Heart of America Athletic Conference.  The game is set for 3:30 p.m.

Jamestown (N.D.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

Jamestown took the first lead of the game in the opening inning.  Chase Burke was hit-by-pitch and swiped to second base with two outs.  He scored home after a pair of errors by the Trojans, giving UJ a 1-0 lead.

Dakota State answered with a run scored in the bottom half of the first inning.  Jeremy Green led off with a hit-by-pitch.  He swiped to second base.  Cade Wenninger hit a ground out to second base to advance Green to third base.

The Jimmies committed a balk to allow DSU's Green to score, tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom first.

Jamestown regained their lead to 2-1 in the top third frame, thanks to Jordan Singleton's two-out RBI single to score Alex Alva who led off with a single.

UJ added two runs in the top fourth to extend their lead to 4-1.  Jett Nelson and Payton Smith hit back-to-back singles to start the top fourth (both Nelson and Smith advanced one base after DSU's defensive error on the play).

The Jimmies earned a pair of sacrifice RBI flies from Jackson Bonneville and Isaiah Roebuck to score Nelson and Smith, respectively, in the top fourth.

DSU snapped their scoring skid with a run scored in the bottom fifth.  Aidan Perry hit a single with one out and advanced to third base after Green's single.  Wenninger produced an RBI ground out to score Perry as the Trojans trailed 4-2 after five innings.

Ben Patton smashed a 2-run home run in the top sixth frame to balloon Jamestown's lead to 6-2.  Jamestown extended their lead to 7-2 in the top seventh after a run scored.

Cassidy Watt led off the bottom seventh inning with a walk.  Dawson Portner, pinch runner for Watt, advanced to second after Green's ground out.

The Jimmies committed a passed ball to advance Portner to third base.  Wenninger recorded a walk with two outs.  Ryan McDaniel hit an RBI single to score Portner as the Trojans trailed 7-3.

DSU left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for UJ.

The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the Jimmies five runners left on base.

Green, McDaniel, Ned Ceklic, Cory Brownson, and Perry each tallied a single for Dakota State.  Wenninger collected an RBI and a walk.  McDaniel added an RBI.  Ceklic and Watt each registered a walk.  Green swiped one base.

Nelson was 2-of-2 at the plate with two singles and two runs scored for Jamestown.  Alva, Burke, Singleton, Ryan Muizelaar, Smith, and Booneville each added a hit.  Patton had a home run and two RBIs.  Singleton recorded two walks and an RBI. 

Hunter Vikemyr (L, 2-1) took the defeat on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He pitched four innings and allowed four runs (one unearned) on seven hits.  Collin Grimmel worked for two innings, while Aiden Urbom worked the seventh inning in relief.

Avery Liestman (W, 1-0) earned the victory after tossing five innings for Jamestown.  He gave up two runs on four hits and registered seven strikeouts.  Varen Sabino worked for one out in relief, while Hayden Brown (S, 2) earned the save after pitching 1 2/3 innings.  He allowed a run on one hit and issued two walks.