March 16, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) faced windy conditions at Flynn Field Saturday, but that does not stop the Trojans from completing their North Star Athletic Association baseball season opening four-game series sweep.  DSU shut down MSU 9-0 in the first game and rolled to an 18-8 seven-inning victory in the four-game series finale.

Dakota State extended their home field winning streak to nine games, dating back to last season.  The Trojans raised their overall record to 18-6 and 4-0 record in the North Star.  Mayville State fell to 5-20 overall record and 0-4 record in the league.

It was the second straight year that the Trojans swept the Comets in the NSAA regular-season four-game series.

Dakota State is set to play a nine-inning contest at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Tuesday afternoon.  The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Drake Field in Mitchell, S.D.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 9, Mayville State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL

Both teams were unable to convert their scoring opportunities in the first inning.  The Comets left two runners on base in the top half, while the Trojans left the bases loaded in the bottom half.

Dakota State took the in the bottom second inning after plating four runs.  Bubba Thompson led off with a single and advanced to second base after Aidan Perry's sacrifice bunt.  Dawson Portner was hit-by-pitch, followed by Jeremy Green's walk to set up a bases loaded situation.

Ned Ceklic produced a 2-RBI single to score Thompson and Portner to give DSU a 2-0 lead.  Green scored on the same play after a defensive error by the Comets, extending DSU's lead to 3-0 (Ceklic advanced to second).

Ryan McDaniel hit an RBI single to score Ceklic to make it 4-0 in favor for the Trojans in the bottom second.

Dakota State poured in five runs in the bottom sixth inning to balloon their lead to 9-0, highlighted by Ceklic's 2-RBI single, Cory Brownson's RBI double, and Thompson's RBI single.

Will Clair (W, 5-0) shut down the Comets in the final inning, securing the victory for the Trojans.  He pitched his second straight complete game victory, yielding MSU to three hits in the game and registered two strikeouts.

Ceklic paced Dakota State's offense with two singles, a walk, and drove in a game-high four runs.  McDaniel and Thompson each added two hits and an RBI.  Portner tallied a double, single, and scored two runs.  Brownson recorded a double and an RBI.  Walker Hultgren had a single and a walk. 

Chris Shopbell led Mayville State with a double, single, and walk.  Teigen Parenteau added a single.  Carson Lundmark had a walk.

DSU outhit MSU 11-3 in the game.  The Comets committed three defensive errors compared to the Trojans zero errors.

Derek Palmiere (L, 0-4) took the defeat after tossing five-plus innings, allowing seven runs (one unearned) on seven hits.  Colby Snider worked the sixth inning in relief, giving up two unearned runs on four hits.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 18, Mayville State (N.D.) 8 – FINAL/7 innings

Dakota State erased an 8-6 deficit after five-and-half innings by erupting for 12 total runs in a span of 1-and-half innings to secure a 10-run mercy rule in a nine-inning contest.

The Comets earned the first lead in the opening inning.  Marcus Hughes was hit-by-pitch.  He advanced to second base after Ricky Marquez's sacrifice bunt.  After Shopbell's walk, Lundmark produced an RBI single to score Hughes to give MSU a 1-0 lead.

DSU opened the bottom third inning with three straight singles by Green, Ceklic, and McDaniel.  After a runner's interference committed by the Trojans, Cassidy Watt hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Green as the Trojans knotted the game at 1-1.

Dakota State produced three runs in the bottom fourth frame, highlighted by four consecutive singles.  Thompson reached safely on base after a defensive error by the Comets.  He advanced to second base after Perry's sacrifice.  Portner, Green, Ceklic, and McDaniel each recorded a single, producing three runs.

Green, Ceklic, and McDaniel each hit three straight RBI singles as the Trojans earned a 4-1 lead in the bottom fourth.

Hughes led off the top fifth inning with a walk.  Marquez hit a single to advance Hughes to second base.  Lundmark hit an RBI single to score Hughes as the Comets trailed 4-2. 

Mayville State added two more runs after a defensive error by the Trojans with two outs, tying the game at 4-4 in the top fifth.

Dakota State regained their lead in the bottom fifth inning with two runs.  Thompson recorded a walk with one out and advanced to second base after MSU's wild pitch.  Perry hit an RBI single to score Thompson as DSU grabbed a 5-4 lead.

Perry swiped to second base and advanced to third base after the Comets' defensive miscue.  Green recorded a walk and swiped to second base.  Perry scored home on the same play after MSU's defensive error to give DSU a 6-4 lead.

With bases loaded situation in the top sixth inning with two outs, Lundmark blasted a grand slam as Mayville State regained an 8-6 lead.

Dakota State answered by scoring eight runs in the bottom sixth inning, highlighted by five defensive errors committed by MSU.  Brownson collected a 2-RBI single, while Green added an RBI single followed by Ceklic's RBI walk and McDaniel's RBI sacrifice fly.

DSU led 14-8 after six innings.

A new all-time school record was established in the top seventh inning as JD Kirchner struck out the final three MSU's batters.  After his second strikeout, Kirchner surpassed the all-time strikeouts record held by Matt Schuster with 190 strikeouts from 2002-05.

Thompson led off the bottom seventh with a double.  Perry followed up with an RBI double to score Thompson to make it 15-8 in favor of Dakota State.

Portner added an RBI single to score Perry to balloon Dakota State's lead to 16-8.  Portner swiped to second base and advanced to third base after Ceklic's single.  DSU made it 17-8 as McDaniel hit an RBI fielder's choice to score Portner.

Hultgren closed the game by hitting a walk-off RBI double to score Seth Altwine, catcher's courtesy runner for McDaniel.  The Trojans secured their second 10-run rule victory in the four-game series with the Comets.

Dakota State outhit Mayville State 18-8 in the game.  The Comets were hit by eight defensive errors, while the Trojans had two defensive errors.

Green was 4-of-5 at the plate with four singles, two RBIs, and scored three times for DSU.  He also swiped three bases.  Ceklic added three singles and two RBIs.  McDaniel had two singles and three RBIs.  Hultgren tallied a double, single and an RBI. Brownson collected two singles and two RBIs.  Perry had two hits and three RBIs.  Portner recorded two singles and two RBIs.

Lundmark powered MSU with a home run, two singles, and poured in a game-high six RBIs.  Marquez added two singles.  Sam Hilgersom had a single.

Nicholai Arbach started the game on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He allowed four runs (two unearned) on three hits.  He registered six strikeouts.  Kirchner (W, 2-1) earned the victory after tossing two innings in relief.  He had three strikeouts.

Connor Cory pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for Mayville State.  He gave up four runs (one unearned) on nine hits.  Gunner Thompson (L, 0-3) recorded the defeat in relief.  Calvin Watkins and Brady Robinson also pitched in relief.