March 6, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (March 6, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan baseball team (11-5 overall record) plays concludes their 20-game stretch away from the Flynn Field Friday and Saturday.  DSU visits Hannibal-LaGrange (4-7 overall record) of the American Midwest Conference in a four-game series at Nichols Field (2800 Palmyra Road) in Hannibal, Mo. (on the campus of Hannibal-LaGrange).

The battle of the Trojans begins Friday with a doubleheader, followed by another doubleheader Saturday.  The first game on each day starts at 12 noon.

Dakota State is coming off from a 3-1 record in the four-game series against Sterling (Kan.) in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Trojans split a pair of one-run games on March 1, falling short in the first game 3-2 and winning the second game by the score of 5-4.  DSU posted identical scores of 12-8 on March 2, holding off the Warriors in the first game and rallying back for the victory in the series finale with a six-run seventh inning production.

Hannibal-LaGrange is coming off from their doubleheader sweep of Maranatha Baptist (Wis.) on Feb. 26 during their current nine-game home stand.  The Trojans swept MBU by the scores of 14-1 and 23-0.

It will be the second straight weekend that DSU will be playing against an opponent for the first time in series history (Sterling, Kan., last weekend and Hannibal-LaGrange this weekend).

Next Up:  Dakota State opens their North Star Athletic Association play next Friday and Saturday versus Mayville State (N.D.).  The four-game series will be held at Flynn Field in DSU's home opener.
 
This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is 7-1 record on the road this season, despite a setback in the four-game series opener at Sterling (Kan.) on March 1.  The Trojans had won four times in the last five games.
+ DSU is facing an opponent from the American Midwest Conference for the second time this season (Dakota State defeated William Woods, Mo., 9-4 earlier this season in the Joplin baseball tournament).
+ Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) is 3-2 record at home this season, which is their current nine-game home stand.
+ Dakota State hit double-digit victories for the fourth consecutive season after their 12-8 victories at Sterling (Kan.) on March 2.  The Trojans had produced 30-plus victories in the previous two seasons.
+ DSU's pitching staff had posted double-digit strikeouts five times during the season, including the most recent with 12 strikeouts in 3-2 setback at Sterling (Kan.) on March 1.
+ After Dakota State's conference opener, the Trojans will have six remaining non-conference contests on their 2024 schedule including a home-and-away series with Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and a four-game home series versus Missouri Valley.
+ Dakota State is slated to play eight total home games at Flynn Field during the month of March.  DSU hosts Mayville State (N.D.) on March 15-16 and Missouri Valley on March 22-23.
+ The Trojans are playing their third opponent from the state of Missouri.  Dakota State is 5-0 record against them (4-0 record versus Avila, Mo., on Feb. 9-10, and defeated William Woods (Mo.) on Feb. 16.

Noteworthy...
RECORDS WATCH:  JD Kirchner produced his third save of the season during Dakota State's four-game series at Sterling (Kan.) last weekend.  He collected his ninth career save at DSU, which is in the top five in the Trojan baseball record book.  Jeremy Daul holds the all-time school record of 12 saves from 2003-04, while David Morgan is second with 11 all-time saves from 2007-08.

A LOOK AT NSAA CONFERENCE OPENER:  The North Star Athletic Association officially opens their 24-game baseball schedule on March 15-16 in a four-games series.  The conference opener schedule features Dickinson State (N.D.) at Viterbo (Wis.), Mayville State (N.D.) at Dakota State (S.D.), and Valley City State (N.D.) at Bellevue (Neb.) (Waldorf is idle until March 22-23 versus MSU).  All conference series will be 7-inning game, followed by 9-inning game.  If the 7-inning game went to extra inning with the game going at least 9 innings, that game will become 9-inning game then game two will be a 7-inning game. 
 
DSU OFFENSE ATTACK:  Dakota State had scored double digits runs four times this season, with the most recently back-to-back 12 runs at Sterling (Kan.) on March 2 in a doubleheader sweep.  The Trojans leads the North Star Athletic Association in total runs scored with 120 runs, as well as total bases with 260 total bases.  DSU leads the NSAA conference in runs batted in with 112 RBIs.

DSU BASEBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM OPENS SEASON WITH SWEEP:  The Dakota State University Trojan baseball developmental team kicked off their 2024 season with a doubleheader sweep at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Feb. 26.  The Trojans won by the scores of 10-6 and 13-0.  DSU resumes to action on March 18 at NCAA Division II Augustana (S.D.) at Peru State (Neb.) on March 20.

DSU splits pair of 1-run games at Sterling (Kan.)
Sterling, Kan. (March 1, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to complete their comeback attempt in the first game of the four-game series at Sterling (Kan.) Baseball Complex.  The Warriors opened with a run in the first inning and extended their lead to 3-0 after five innings.
 
DSU snapped their scoring drought with two runs scored in the top seventh, but fell short after leaving two runners on base.

Dakota State outhit Sterling 9-6 in the game, paced by Cade Wenninger and Walker Hultgren with two hits each.  Ryan McDaniel and Cassidy Watt each collected a single and an RBI.  Sam Tyrpa tossed 5 2/3 innings on the pitching mound and struck out a season-high 12 Warrior batters.  Aiden Urbom worked the final out in the bottom sixth in relief.

Sterling took a 1-0 lead after the first inning of the second game.  Dakota State answered with three runs in the top second and never trailed.  The Trojans extended their lead to 5-2 in the top fifth frame and held off the Warriors late comeback in the bottom sixth inning to secure a 5-4 victory.

Hultgren led DSU with two hits and tow RBUs.  Ned Ceklic added a double and two RBIs.  Watt had a double and an RBI.  McDaniel had a double and a single.

Hunter Vikemyr earned the win after working for five innings for Dakota State with five strikeouts.  JD Kirchner earned his third save of the season after tossing two innings in relief with three strikeouts.

Trojans win four-game series at Sterling (Kan.)
Sterling, Kan. (March 2, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) completed a doubleheader sweep of Sterling (Kan.) at SC Baseball Complex by identical scores of 12-8, earning a four-game series victory with a 3-1 record. 

The Trojans led 8-2 after three innings and ballooned their lead to 11-2 after five innings.  The Warriors mounted a comeback with six total runs in the final two innings, but DSU held to the victory in the first game.

Dakota State hit seven extra-bases hits in the game, with three home runs and for doubles.  Jeremy Green had a home run, double, and drove in five runs.  Walker Hultgren added three hits and two RBIs.  Dawson Portner had two hits and an RBI.  Aidan Perry tallied two hits.   Nicholai Arbach earned the picturing victory.

Trailing 8-6 in the second game, DSU roared back with six-run in the top seventh and held off SC.

Green powered the Trojans with a double, three singles, and four RBIs.  Bubba Thompson had a triple, double, and three RBIs.  Ned Ceklic had a double and two RBIs.  Hunter Vikemyr recorded two hits.  Will Clair started the game for the Trojans.  Curtis Flint earned the win after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Dakota State leaders in the North Star conference
Madison, S.D. (March 6, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State (S.D.) leads the North Star Athletic Association offensive categories of batting average (.328), slugging percentage (.544), doubles (42), and extra-bases hits (62).  The Trojans are second in the league in RBIs (112), hits (157), home runs (19), and total bases (260).

Dakota State's pitching staff leads the North Star in K/9 ratio of 11.11 K/per nine innings.  The Trojans are second in the league with 137 strikeouts.

Jeremy Green leads the North Star conference in runs batted in with 25 total RBIs this season.  He is also tied in the conference with six stolen bases.  Walker Hultgren ranks second in the league with .462 batting average, followed by Ryan McDaniel third with .453 batting average.  JD Kirchner ties the North Star conference with three saves.  Sam Tyrpa is second in the conference with 36 strikeouts, followed by Nicholai Arbach third with 27 strikeouts.  Will Clair and Vikemyr tie for most pitching wins in the NSAA with three.

2024 DSU Baseball team leaders

· Hits:  Ryan McDaniel, Walker Hultgren—24 hits

· Batting Average:  Walker Hultgren—.462 batting average (24-of-52 at-bats)

· Slugging Percentage:  Ryan McDaniel—.755 slugging percentage (14 singles, 7 doubles, 3 home runs)

· Runs Batted In (RBIs):  Jeremy Green—25 RBIs

· Doubles:  Jeremy Green—8 doubles

· Triples:  Jeremy Green, Bubba Thompson—1 triple

· Home Runs:  Hunter Vikemyr, Ryan McDaniel, Walker Hultgren—3 home runs

· Total Bases:  Ryan McDaniel—40 total bases

· Runs Scored:  Dawson Portner—14 runs

· Walks:  Walker Hultgren—10 walks

· Hit-by-Pitch:  Dawson Portner—5 hit-by-pitches

· Stolen Bases: Jeremy Green—6 stolen bases

· On-base percentage:  Walker Hultgren—.548 on-base percentage

· Innings Pitched:  Sam Tyrpa—20 2/3 innings

· Earned Runs Average (ERA):  Hunter Vikemyr—3.20 earned run average (7 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings)

· Strikeouts (Pitching):   Sam Tyrpa—36 strikeouts

· Complete Games (Pitching):   N/A

· Wins:  Will Clair, Hunter Vikemyr—3 wins

· Saves:  JD Kirchner—3 saves

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