April 19, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) met NAIA's nationally-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the key North Star Athletic Association baseball four-game series action at John Stella Field at Brown Park.  The Bruins held off the Trojans in the doubleheader sweep Friday by the scores of 4-3 in a walk-off fashion in the first game followed by an 11-2 game victory in the battle of top two teams in the league.

Dakota State fell to 31-12 overall record and 14-4 NSAA conference record.  Bellevue, ranked No. 16 in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, extended their winning streak to seven games.  The Bruins are 32-11 overall record and 17-1 record in the league, holding a three-game lead over the Trojans for the conference lead.

DSU and BU wrap up their NSAA four-game series with another doubleheader Saturday at 12 p.m.

Game 1 – (16) Bellevue (Neb.) 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

Bellevue took the first lead of the seven-inning game at 1-0 in the bottom first inning, thanks to a solo home run with one out by Logan Grant.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought after plating two runs in the top third inning.  Dawson Portner and Bubba Thompson led off with back-to-back singles.  Jeremy Green registered a sacrifice bunt to advance Portner to third base and Thompson to second base.

The Trojans knotted the game at 1-1 as Cory Brownson hit an RBI ground out to score Portner (Thompson advanced to third base) in the top third. 

DSU overtook the lead at 2-1 in the top third as Ryan McDaniel hit an RBI single to score Thompson.

The Bruins tied the game in the bottom fourth inning as Tyler Monroe hit an RBI single to score Anthony Lind, who hit a two-out triple on a full count.

CJ Townsend drilled a double with one out in the bottom fifth for BU.  Jake Lacey followed up with a walk.  Grant hit an RBI double to score Townsend as Bellevue regained their lead at 3-2.

Dakota State answered with a run in the top seventh inning to record the third tie of the game.  Portner led off with a single and advanced to second base after Thompson's sacrifice bunt.  Green hit a single to advance Portner to third base.

Brownson hit an RBI single to score Portner as the Trojans tied the game at 3-3 in the top seventh.  Dakota State was unable to add another run as they left two runners on base, extending the game into the bottom seventh.

Townsend recorded a walk with one out for Bellevue in the bottom seventh.  Lacey registered a sacrifice bunt to advance Takumi Maeno, pinch runner for Townsend, to second base.  Grant was intentionally walked with two outs.

Bendan Luther hit a walk-off RBI single to score Maeno to secure the victory for Bellevue at 4-3.

DSU outhit BU 8-7 in the game.  The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the Bruins four runners left on base.

Brownson tallied a single and drove in two runs for Dakota State.  McDaniel added a single and an RBI.  Ned Ceklic drilled a double.  Cassidy Watt registered a walk. 

Grant paced Bellevue with a home run, double, and collected two RBIs.  Monroe added two singles and an RBI.  Townsend had a double, walk, and a run scored.  Lind hit a triple. 

Sam Tyrpa (L, 6-3) took the defeat on the pitching mound for DSU.  He tossed 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

Dustin Schorie started the game for BU.  He worked for 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.  He recorded six strikeouts.  Teron Williams (W, 2-0) earned the victory after tossing two shutout outs in the top seventh inning.

Game 2 – (16) Bellevue (Neb.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

The Bruins scored six runs in the first four innings of the nine-inning game and never trailed for the rest of the game.

Bellevue scored twice in the bottom half of the first frame.  Lacey led off with a walk and swiped to second base with one out.  Luther hit an RBI single to score Lacey to give BU a 1-0 lead.  Steven Elsner added a single to advance Luther to second base.

Monroe hit an RBI single to score Luther to extend the Bruins' lead to 2-0 in the bottom first.

Bellevue ballooned their lead to 4-0 in the bottom third inning as Lind smashed a 2-run home run, scoring Elsner who had a single with one out.  Monroe followed up with a double and scored home for BU's 5-0 lead after Nick Grade's RBI single.

Bellevue widened their lead to 6-0 in the bottom fourth as Luther hit an RBI single to score Lacey, who had a lead-off double.

The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with two runs in the top fifth frame.  Aidan Perry hit a single with one out, followed by Portner's hit-by-pitch, and a walk from Thompson to set up a bases loaded situation.

Green produced a 2-RBI single to score Perry and Portner as DSU trailed 6-2 in the top fifth.

Bellevue's lead grew to 8-2 in the bottom sixth as Grade hit a 2-RBI single.

Grant hit a 2-RBI double, while Luther added an RBI double in the bottom seventh inning to make it 11-2 in favor of the Bruins.

Dakota State left a runner in the top ninth inning, despite a double from Perry.  The Bruins ended the game in a double play defensively, securing the victory.

BU outhit DSU 15-7 in the game.  The Bruins left 11 runners on base compared to the Trojans seven runners left on base.

Perry led Dakota State with a double, single and a run scored.  Portner added a double and a run scored.  Green tallied a single and two RBIs.  Brownson and Walker Hultgren each had a single.  McDaniel and Thompson each had a walk.

Luther went 4-of-5 at the plate with a double, three singles, and drove in three runs for Bellevue.  Lind added a home run and two RBIs.  Grade had two singles and three RBIs.  Monroe had two hits and an RBI.  Elsner collected three singles.  Grant had a double and two RBIs.  Lacey had a double, three walks, and scored three times.  Lacey, Lind, and Monroe each swiped one base.

Hunter Vikemyr (L, 7-4) recorded the defeat after working for 2 1/3 innings for DSU.  He gave up five runs on seven hits and recorded two strikeouts.  Collin Grimmel, Treyten Kolar, Keaton Young, and Alexander Ferrin each worked in relief.

Brock Townsend (W, 3-2) earned the victory for BU, tossing five innings.  He allowed two runs on four hits.  Brady Toth (S, 4) earned the save after pitching four shutout innings in relief, limiting the Trojans to three hits.