March 27, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (March 27, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan baseball team (21-7 overall record, 4-0 NSAA record) returns to North Star Athletic Association action Friday and Saturday on the road.  The Trojans visit Viterbo (Wis.) (5-27 overall record, 4-4 NSAA record) in a four-game series.  It will be the last time both teams will be playing in the North Star Athletic Association this season, as the V-Hawks depart for a new conference.

Both teams play a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. and wrap up their four-game series with another doubleheader Saturday at 12 p.m.  The four-game series takes place at Viterbo Outdoor Activities Complex (N3175 State Road Highway 16) in La Crosse, Wis.

Missouri Valley snapped Dakota State's six-game winning streak as they rallied back for a 10-9 victory in the first game of the series on March 22 in Marshall, Mo.  The Trojans shut down the Vikings 1-0 in the second game on the same day.  DSU and MVC earned another doubleheader split on March 23, with Missouri Valley winning game 1 by the score of 4-3 and Dakota State earning a 6-0 shutout game two victory.

Viterbo went 1-3 record in the NSAA's four-game series with Valley City State (N.D.) held at Drake Field in Mitchell, S.D.  The Vikings swept the V-Hawks 5-4 and 12-8 on March 20.  VCSU won the first game 5-4 on March 21, while VU closed the four-game series with a 15-8 victory.

The Trojans won the previous five meetings with the V-Hawks, including a four-game series sweep in La Crosse, Wis., last season. 

Next Up:  Dakota State is scheduled to host Dickinson State (N.D.) as they continue their North Star Athletic Association action.  The four-game series is set for April 5-6 at Flynn Field with a doubleheader on each day.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) heads to La Crosse, Wis., for the third straight season since 2022.  The Trojans swept the North Star Athletic Association four-game series last season, outscoring the V-Hawks 25-8 in the series.
+ DSU had won seven times in the last eight meetings with VU, held in La Crosse, Wis. (Trojans went 3-1 record in the four-game series on April 9-10, 2022).
+ This weekend's NSAA four-game series contests are the first conference road games for Dakota State.
+ Dakota State plays the remaining North Star Athletic Association contests on every weekend during the month of April, including a pair of home four-game series versus Dickinson State (N.D.) on April 5-6 and Waldorf (Iowa) on April 26-27.
+ The V-Hawks hold a 16-14 series meeting record edge over the Trojans since joining the North Star in 2015-16.
+ Dakota State (S.D.) ranks fourth nationally in the NAIA in batting average with .357 batting average.
+ DSU is 17-8 record in non-conference games after their four-game series split at Missouri Valley last weekend.  DSU closes out their non-conference schedule with a home nine-inning contest with rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on April 16.
+ Ryan McDaniel, Bubba Thompson, and Cory Brownson each registered a double digit hitting streak this season for the Trojans.  McDaniel had an 18-game hitting streak, while Thompson recorded 15-game hitting streak.  Brownson is currently on a 14-game hitting streak.
+ Three DSU players are ranked in the Top 5 NSAA's batting average (Brownson, McDaniel, and Walker Hultgren).

Noteworthy...
TROJANS SURPASS 20 VICTORIES:  Dakota State (S.D.) secured at least 20 victories for the fourth consecutive season after their four-game series split at Missouri Valley.  The Trojans recorded 20 victories during the 2021 season, followed by 33 victories in 2022.  DSU registered the second most victories in a single season with 36 last season.  Prior to this weekend's series at Viterbo (Wis.), Dakota State had won 21 games this season.

DSU OFFENSE POWER:   According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State ranks fourth in the NAIA in batting average with .357 batting average.  The Trojans also tied for second most doubles in the nation with 79 doubles.  Cory Brownson ranks 10th in the NAIA with .470 batting average (31-of-66 at the plate).  Ryan McDaniel and Bubba Thompson  tied for 21st most doubles in the nation with 12 doubles. 
 
TROJANS ON THE PITCHING MOUND:   Dakota State is 19th in the NAIA in earned run average of 4.44 through 29 games.  The Trojans are ranked 10th in the nation in K/per 9 innings with 10.7 strikeouts (241 total strikeouts this season).  Hunter Vikeymr is 12th in the NAIA with 1.86 ERA.  Four DSU pitchers are ranked in the Top 10's ERA in the North Star, led by Vikemyr followed by Will Clair with the second best ERA in the league (3.00).  Sam Tyrpa is sixth with 4.50 ERA, followed by Nicholai Arbach 10th with 5.06 ERA. 

DSU BASEBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SCHEDULE UPDATE:  Despite the winter storm that hit the Midwest region last week, the Dakota State developmental baseball doubleheader with Iowa Lakes scheduled to be played at home Monday had been switched to Estherville, Iowa.  The Trojans will host Iowa Lakes in the regular-season finale at Flynn Field on April 29.

DSU collects 20th win of the season, splits with MVC
Madison, S.D. (March 22, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) and Missouri Valley split a pair of one-run non-conference contests on the first day of the doubleheader at Indian Foothills Park. 
 
The Vikings took a 2-1 lead after the first inning in the first game before the Trojans went on a 8-0 scoring tear in the next three innings.  DSU led 9-2 after four innings, while MVC trimmed their lead to 9-6 after five innings.  The Vikings stormed back with four runs in the bottom seventh, capping a comeback victory with two outs.

DSU outhit MVC 14-8 in the game, led by Jeremy Green, Walker Hultgren, Cassidy Watt, Cory Brownson and Bubba Thompson with two hits each.  Aidan Perry added a hit and three RBIs.  Ned Ceklic smashed a home run and collected an RBI.  Sam Tyrpa registered six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.  Curtis Flint and JD Kirchner worked in relief. 

Dakota State shut down Missouri Valley 1-0 in the second game of the doubleheader, thanks to Hunter Vikemyr's (W, 6-1) complete game 3-hit shutout.  He also struck out a season-high 12 times in the game.

The Trojans produced three straight singles in the top fourth by Brownson, Thompson, and Perry with one out.  Dawson Portner collected an RBI fielder's choice to score Brownson for a 1-0 lead.

Ryan McDaniel, Brownson, and Thompson each tallied two hits in the game for Dakota State.  Perry added a hit.  Green, Ceklic, Hultgren, and Portner each recorded a walk.

Trojans split doubleheader with Missouri Valley
Madison, S.D. (March 23, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) and Missouri Valley earned another doubleheader split at Indian Foothills Park.  The Vikings rallied to defeat the Trojans 4-3 in the first game.  DSU shut down the Vikings 6-0 in the four-game series finale. 

The Trojans opened with a 1-0 lead in the top third before the Vikings took a 2-1 lead after three innings.  DSU answered with two runs in the top fourth, while the Vikings plated two runs in the bottom fifth and held on to the victory.

Aidan Perry had a home run, double, and drove in two runs for Dakota State.  Cassidy Watt added two hits.  Cory Brownson had a hit and two RBIs.  Will Clair (L, 5-1) took the defeat, despite tossing a complete game with nine strikeouts.

Dakota State scored four runs in the top fifth in the final game of the four-game series, breaking the 0-0 tie into a 4-0 lead.  The Trojans added two runs in the final inning to secure the victory.

Nicholai Arbach (W, 3-2) tossed a complete game victory for Dakota State, scattering six hits.  Perry had a double and three RBIs.  Jeremy Green, Ryan McDaniel, and Walker Hultgren each recorded a hit and an RBI.  Watt, Brownson, Bubba Thompson, and Dawson Portner each added a hit.

Vikemyr honored by NSAA as Pitcher-of-the-Week
Madison, S.D. (March 25, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) junior right handed pitcher Hunter Vikemyr was selected by the North Star Athletic Association as the baseball Pitcher-of-the-Week award.  It was the second time this season that the Trojans received the Pitcher-of-the-Week honor (Will Clair—March 11).

Vikemyr tossed a complete game victory in DSU's 1-0 shutout at Missouri Valley during the second game of the four-game series on March 22.  He limited the Vikings to three hits in the game and recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts (15.43 strikeouts per nine innings).

Vikemyr moved to 6-1 record and produced an earned run average of 1.86 on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He leads the NSAA conference in earned run average and pitching victories.

According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Vikemyr ranks 12th in the nation in earned run average.  He is also tied for eighth most pitching wins with 16 other players in the NAIA.

2024 DSU Baseball team leaders

· Hits:  Ryan McDaniel—45 hits

· Batting Average:  Cory Brownson—.470 batting average (31-of-66 at-bats)

· Slugging Percentage:  Cory Brownson—.788 slugging percentage (20 singles, 6 doubles, 5 home runs)

· Runs Batted In (RBIs):  Jeremy Green—39 RBIs

· Doubles:  Ryan McDaniel, Bubba Thompson—12 doubles

· Triples:  Bubba Thompson—2 triples

· Home Runs:  Walker Hultgren—6 home runs

· Total Bases:  Walker Hultgren—68 total bases

· Runs Scored:  Seth Altwine—29 runs

· Walks:  Ned Ceklic—17 walks

· Hit-by-Pitch:  Dawson Portner—11 hit-by-pitches

· Stolen Bases: Jeremy Green—18 stolen bases

· On-base percentage:  Cory Brownson—.561 on-base percentage

· Innings Pitched:  Sam Tyrpa—40 innings

· Earned Runs Average (ERA):  Hunter Vikemyr—1.86 earned run average (8 earned runs in 38 2/3 innings)

· Strikeouts (Pitching):   Sam Tyrpa—54 strikeouts

· Complete Games (Pitching):   Will Clair—3 complete games

· Wins:  Hunter Vikemyr—6 wins

· Saves:  JD Kirchner—3 saves

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