April 10, 2024

MADISON, S.D. (April 10, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan baseball team (28-9 overall record, 11-1 NSAA record) carries their six-game winning streak as they continue their North Star Athletic Association action.  The Trojans make a trip to Charlie Brown Stadium (462 13th Street NE) to take on Valley City State (N.D.) (13-22 overall record, 5-7 NSAA conference record) in the NSAA's four-game series in Valley City, N.D.

The DSU-VCSU four-game series begin Friday with a doubleheader, followed by another doubleheader on Saturday at 12 noon.

Dakota State returns home Tuesday for a mid-week non-conference nine-inning contest against rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (14-22 overall record).  First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Flynn Field in Madison.

The Trojans remained undefeated at home after sweeping Dickinson State (N.D.) in the North Star's four-game series.  Dakota State outscored the Blue Hawks 62-22 in the series, scoring double digits runs in all four games.

Valley City State (N.D.) was swept by Dakota Wesleyan 5-3 and 8-6 in non-conference action on April 3.  The Vikings followed up with a four-game series split at Waldorf (Iowa), winning the second game on each day on April 5-6.

DWU earned a doubleheader conference split at Dordt (Iowa) on April 9, losing the first game 9-8 and winning the second game 4-3.  The Tigers host Jamestown (N.D.) in the conference's four-game series Saturday & Sunday.

Next Up:  Dakota State plays their final North Star Athletic Association four-game road series, batting with nationally-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the battle of top two teams in the league.  The series is set for April 19-20.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) plays at Charlie Brown Stadium, home site for Valley City State (N.D.) baseball contests, for the first time since May 2, 2014.  It is also the first time in 10 years that DSU and VCSU played the North Star Athletic Association four-game series at Charlie Brown Stadium (April 11-12, 2014).
+ The Trojans had won five straight meetings with the Vikings, including the previous meeting in the NSAA Baseball Postseason Tournament in Dickinson, N.D., on May 5, 2023.  DSU swept the four-game series with VCSU at Flynn Field on April 23-24, 2023.
+ Prior to last year's meeting in the conference postseason tournament, Dakota State hosted Valley City State for 12 straight meetings from March 27, 2021, through April 24, 2023.
+ DSU won the first meeting with rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 12-6 on March 19 in Mitchell, S.D., thanks to their fast start with five runs in the top first inning.
+ The Trojans registered three straight victories in the series meeting with the Tigers, including the previous two home meetings held at Flynn Field (16-2 in seven innings on April 18, 2023, and 14-4 in eight innings on March 29, 2022).
+ Dakota State is 8-0 record at home this season and 16-5 record on the road.  Valley City State is playing their first home games this spring (2-2 home record in the fall).  Dakota Wesleyan is 3-8 record on the road in 2024.
+ DSU had scored double digits runs for four straight games, as well as 16 times during the 2024 season.

Noteworthy...
HOME COOKING:  Dakota State (S.D.) remained perfect at home with an 8-0 record at Flynn Field this season, extending their home field winning streak to 13 games from last season.  The Trojans scored double digit runs in all games except the third game in the series with Mayville State (N.D.) on March 16 by the score of 9-0.  Dakota State outscored the two North Star opponents—MSU and Dickinson State (N.D.)—by a combined scores of 112-33 (DSU outscored Mayville State 50-11 and Dickinson State 62-22).

TROJANS IN THE NAIA'S TOP 20:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State (S.D.) ranks sixth in the nation with .353 batting average.  The Trojans are also second in the NAIA in total doubles with 101 doubles.  Hunter Vikemyr ranks 10th in the nation in earned run average with 1.83.  Vikemyr and Will Clair both are tied for ninth most pitching wins in the NAIA with seven victories.  Ryan McDaniel ranks 16th with .448 batting average. 
 
DSU IN THE NSAA CONFERENCE GAMES RANKS:   Dakota State (S.D.) ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association with .375 batting average, .461 on-base percentage, 130 runs scored, 244 total bases, and .610 slugging percentage during league games.  DSU leads the North Star in pitching with 3.17 earned run average in the conference contests.  DSU is second in the league with 111 strikeouts in pitching.

DSU BASEBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SCHEDULE UPDATE:  The Dakota State developmental baseball team extended their winning streak to three games after their doubleheader sweep at Dordt (Iowa) 6-3 and 16-0 on April 6.  DSU hosts NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) in a doubleheader Wednesday and Iowa Lakes CC in a nine-inning game Thursday at Flynn Field.  The Trojans are at Augustana (S.D.) Monday.

Dakota State powers past Dickinson State (N.D.)
Madison, S.D. (April 5, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) blasted five home runs, including a pair of grand slams, to propel to the North Star Athletic Association baseball doubleheader sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.) at Flynn Field.
 
The Trojans poured in six runs in the second inning of the first game and added eight runs in the fourth inning to cruise to a 17-4 victory over the Blue Hawks. 

Cory Brownson paced Dakota State with three hits and four RBIs.  Aidan Perry added two hits and four RBIs.  Cassidy Watt tallied two hits and two RBIs.  Jeremy Green and Ryan McDaniel each had a hit and an RBI.  Sam Tyrpa (W, 5-2) earned the victory after tossing six innings.  Aidan Rocha pitched the seventh inning in relief.  

Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 9-1 in the final four-and-half innings to break a 2-2 tie into an 11-3 victory.  The Trojans scored twice in the bottom fourth and plated five runs in the bottom fifth.

Cameron DeMaria packed the Trojans' offense attack with three hits and four RBIs.  McDaniel and Perry each added three this and an RBI.  Walker Hultgren recorded two singles and an RBI.  Bubba Thompson had a hit and two RBIs.  Dawson Portner registered a hit and an RBI.

Hunter Vikemyr (W, 7-1) earned the victory after working for 6 2/3 innings for DSU.  Curtis Flint pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief.  Both Vikemyr and Flint each recorded five strikeouts.

Records fall in Trojans' 4-game series home sweep
Madison, S.D. (April 6, 2024)—Walker Hultgren (all-time s runs scored), Jeremy Green (single-season stolen bases), and JD Kirchner (tied all-time saves) set records as Dakota State (S.D.) closed with the North Star Athletic Association four-game series s sweep of Dickinson State (N.D.) at Flynn  Field.

The Trojans scored in every inning in the first game of the doubleheader, rolling to a 21-6 victory.  All nine DSU batters each collected at least a hit in the game.

Dawson Portner had three hits and two RBIs for Dakota State.  Ryan McDaniel added two hits and four RBIs.  Hultgren had two hits and two RBIs.  Cameron DeMaria, Ned Ceklic, and Aidan Perry each tallied two hits and an RBI.  Green and Cory Brownson each had a hit and two RBIs.  Bubba Thompson had a hit and three Rbis.  Will Clair earned his seventh pitching win.

The Trojans stretched their scoring surge to 12 straight innings in the second game of the doubleheader, holding off the Blue Hawks by the score of 13-9.  Perry powered DSU's offense attack with two home runs and five RBIs.   Cassidy Watt added three hits and two RBIs.  Jeremy Green had four hits and two RBIs.  Kirchner notched his fourth save after striking out 10 times.  The Trojans' pitching staff, including Kirchner, Nicholai Arbach, and Alex Swack, put together a total of 21 strikeouts in the game.

Perry collects NSAA Baseball Player-of-the-Week
Madison, S.D. (April 8, 2024)—The North Star Athletic Association selected Dakota State's (S.D.) sophomore infielder Aidan Perry as the Baseball Player-of-the-Week.  The Trojans swept the conference's four-game home series over Dickinson State (N.D.) at Flynn Field, recording double digit runs in all four games. 

Perry tallied at least two hits and scored at least a run in all four games for DSU.  He highlighted the series by going perfect 6-of-6 at the plate on the first day and closing the four-game series by smashing two home runs and driving in five runs.

Perry produced a batting average of .692 (9-of-13 at the plate) during the series.  He also posted a slugging percentage of 1.385 with three home runs and collected 11 RBIs.  He scored nine times and reached base by a walk twice.  He finished the week with 18 total bases.

As of Monday (April 8), Perry was ranked fifth in the North Star conference in overall batting average with .373.  He is 44-of-118 at the plate with 35 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .585 this season.

2024 DSU Baseball team leaders

· Hits:  Ryan McDaniel—60 hits

· Batting Average:  Ryan McDaniel—.448 batting average (60-of-134 at-bats)

· Slugging Percentage:  Cory Brownson—.734 slugging percentage (25 singles, 10 doubles, 6 home runs)

· Runs Batted In (RBIs):  Jeremy Green—44 RBIs

· Doubles:  Ryan McDaniel—15 doubles

· Triples:  Bubba Thompson—2 triples

· Home Runs:  Walker Hultgren—8 home runs

· Total Bases:  Ryan McDaniel—90 total bases

· Runs Scored:  Aidan Perry, Jeremy Green—39 runs

· Walks:  Ned Ceklic—24 walks

· Hit-by-Pitch:  Dawson Portner—14 hit-by-pitches

· Stolen Bases: Jeremy Green—26 stolen bases

· On-base percentage:  Cory Brownson—.534 on-base percentage

· Innings Pitched:  Hunter Vikemyr—54 innings

· Earned Runs Average (ERA):  Hunter Vikemyr—1.83 earned run average (11 earned runs in 54 innings)

· Strikeouts (Pitching):   Sam Tyrpa—66 strikeouts

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

· Wins:  Hunter Vikemyr, Will Clair—7 wins

· Saves:  JD Kirchner—4 saves

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