April 13, 2024

Photo credit by VCSU Sports Information

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) shut down Valley City State (N.D.) for 17 straight innings Saturday afternoon, wrapping up the North Star Athletic Association baseball four-game series with identical scores of 2-0 in the doubleheader sweep at Charlie Brown Stadium.  Another career record fell in the first game as JD Kirchner became the school's all-time saves leader in baseball program history.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 31-10 and 14-2 record in the North Star conference.  Valley City State fell to 14-25 overall record and 6-10 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans earned the four-game series victory with a 3-1 record over the Vikings.

Dakota State is scheduled to play a nine-inning non-conference contest Tuesday evening, hosting rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Flynn Field.

DSU plays their final North Star conference four-game series Friday and next Saturday.  The Trojans face the conference's leader and NAIA's nationally ranked No. 16 Bellevue (Neb.), who is currently holding a one-game lead over DSU in the standings.  The four-game series takes place at John Stella Field at Brown Park in Omaha, Neb.  The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. next Saturday.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 2, Valley City State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring opportunities in the opening inning, despite leaving bases full.  Jeremy Green and Walker Hultgren each recorded a walk, while Cameron DeMaria was hit-by-pitch to set up a bases loaded situation.

Both teams were unable to score through the first four innings of the game.  DSU scored the first run of the game in the top fifth frame.  Dawson Portner led off by being hit-by-pitch and advanced to second base after Bubba Thompson's sacrifice bunt.  Green followed up by being hit-by-pitch.

Cory Brownson produced an RBI single to score Portner as Dakota State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top fifth.  The Trojans were unable to extend their scoring surge as they left the bases full after Hultgren's single with two outs (Green advanced to third base and Brownson to second base).

The Vikings were unable to pass the second base as well through six innings.

DSU added another run in the top seventh inning.  Brownson and Ryan McDaniel led off with back-to-back singles.  DeMaria hit an RBI single to score Brownson to extend DSU's lead to 2-0.

VCSU prevented DSU from scoring as the Trojans let runners on third and second bases.

After two outs were recorded in the bottom half of the seventh inning, Jaden Babiuk reached on base by a walk and advanced to third base when Jamel Chabot drilled a double.

Kirchner (S, 5) closed the game as VCSU Kaden Rozdeba was struck out looking, securing the victory for DSU. Kirchner became the all-time saves leader in program history with his 13^th career save, surpassing Jeremy Daul with 12 career saves from 2003-04.

Brownson went 2-of-4 at the plate with two singles and an RBI for Dakota State.  DeMaria added a single and an RBI.  McDaniel, Aidan Perry, and Portner each tallied a single.  Green and Hultgren each registered a walk.  Perry and Portner each swiped one base.

Chabot had a double and single for Valley City State.  Babiuk added two singles and a walk.  Jay Greuel had two singles.

Will Clair (W, 8-1) earned the victory on the pitching mound for the Trojans.  He pitched 5 2/3 innings and limited the Vikings to five hits.  He recorded eight strikeouts.  Kircher earned the save after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, yielding one hit and striking out three VCSU batters.

Hunter Magnuson (L, 3-4) took the defeat after pitching six innings for the Vikings.  He allowed a run on four hits.  He struck out nine DSU's batters.  Eli Chabot tossed the seventh inning in relief, giving up a run on three hits.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 2, Valley City State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL/10 innings

It took 10 innings to decide the outcome of the four-game series finale.  Neither team scored in the nine-inning game, forcing the game into extra inning.

The Trojans prevented the Vikings from scoring in the bottom first inning with bases full.  Babiuk and Chabot each had a single, while Jay Greuel had a walk to set a bases loaded situation.

Hunter Vikemyr sparked the Trojans with a double with one out in the top 10^th inning.  Portner followed up with a hit-by-pitch.  Pinch hitter Cassidy Watt reached safely on base after a fielder's choice, setting up bases full for DSU after VCSU's defense failed put-out at second base (Vikemyr advanced to third and Portner advanced to second).

Green produced an RBI single to score Vikemyr to give DSU a 1-0 lead in the top 10^th inning.  McDaniel added an RBI single with two outs to score Portner to extend the Trojans' lead to 2-0.

The Vikings left a runner on base when the game ended, securing the victory for the Trojans.

DSU outhit VCSU 7-5 in the game.  Valley City State left 10 runners on base compared to Dakota State eight runners left on base.

Vikemyr went 2-of-4 at the plate with a double and single for Dakota State.  McDaniel collected three singles and an RBI.  Green had two singles and an RBI.  Seth Altwine swiped one base. 

Cody Wielgosh had a double and a walk for Valley City State.  Babiuk, Chabot, Rozdeba, and Justin Rogers each had a single. 

Nicholai Arbach started the game for Dakota State.  He tossed six innings and recorded five strikeouts.  He limited the Vikings to four hits.  Kirchner (W, 3-1) earned the victory after pitching four scoreless innings in relief, yielding one hit.  He struck out five Viking batters.

Takao Cookson (L, 1-2) took the defeat after pitching 9 1/3 innings on the mound for Valley City State.  He allowed two runs on five hits and registered nine strikeouts.  Riley Resnick pitched the final two outs in the top 10^th inning, giving up two hits.