April 23, 2024
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) erased a 2-1 deficit with a six-run explosion Tuesday evening, completing the season series sweep of rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) with a 7-2 non-conference victory at Flynn Field. The Trojans won their third straight meeting with the Tigers and recorded their fifth win in the last six meetings.
Dakota State snapped their four-game losing skid, improving to 32-14 overall record. The Trojans remained undefeated at Flynn Field with a 9-0 record, extending their home field winning streak to 14 games (dating back to last season). Dakota Wesleyan fell to 15-31 overall record.
DSU wraps up their regular-season schedule at home in the North Star Athletic Association's four-game series versus Waldorf (Iowa). The doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday. The Trojan baseball team will be honoring their seniors after the conclusion of Saturday's games.
Dakota State (S.D.) 7, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 2 – FINAL
Dakota Wesleyan took the first lead in the top first inning after recording the first two outs. Caleb Meyers and Oscar Pravecek recorded back-to-back walks. Carter Olek produced an RBI single to score Meyers to give DWU a 1-0 lead.
Dakota State answered with a run in the bottom half of the first inning.
Jeremy Green led off with a single and swiped to second base.
Cory Brownson recorded a walk.
Cameron DeMaria hit a fly out for the second out of the bottom second to advance Green to third base.
Aidan Perry produced an RBI single to score Green as the Trojans knotted the game at 1-1.
The Tigers regained their lead after plating a run in the top fourth. Michael Zeman led off with a walk and advanced to second base after DSU's wild pitch. Nathan Meyers hit a single to advance Zeman to third base. Carter Brown recorded a walk to set up a bases loaded situation for DWU with one out.
Landon Ruesink hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Zeman as Dakota Wesleyan grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top fourth.
Dakota State snapped their scoring drought after pouring in six runs in the bottom sixth inning. After Perry reached first base by a fielder's choice,
Cassidy Watt was hit-by-pitch.
Ned Ceklic followed up with an RBI single to score Perry (catcher's courtesy runner
Seth Altwine advanced to third base on the same play) as DSU tied the game at 2-2.
The Trojans continued their scoring surge as
Dawson Portner drilled a 2-RBI double to score Altwine and
Michael Buchmann, pinch runner for Ceklic, earning a 4-2 lead in the bottom sixth.
DSU made it 5-2 as
Bubba Thompson hit an RBI single to score Portner.
Cory Brownson capped the sixth inning offense explosion with a 2-run home run to make it 7-2 in favor of Dakota State. It was his seventh home run this season.
Dakota State secured the victory as Dakota Wesleyan left a runner on base when the game ended in the top ninth inning.
The Trojans tallied 11 hits in the game and held the Tigers to two hits.
Brownson led DSU with a home run, walk, and drove in two runs. Thompson added three singles and an RBI. Portner hit a double and collected two RBIs. Green had two hits and a run scored. He swiped two bases. Perry recorded a single, RBI, and run scored. He had a stolen base. Ceklic had a single and an RBI.
Olek paced DWU with a single and an RBI. Meyers added a single. Pravecek had two walks. Ruesink collected an RBI.
Alex Swack started the game on the pitching mound for Dakota State. He worked for three-plus innings and allowed two runs on one hit. He had three strikeouts.
Collin Grimmel worked for one scoreless inning in relief.
JD Kirchner (W, 4-2) earned the victory after tossing four shutout innings, collecting six strikeouts.
Johan Freudenburg pitched a shutout in the ninth inning in relief.
Jacob Glovich (L, 1-6) registered the setback after pitching 5 2/3 innings for Dakota Wesleyan. He gave up seven runs and nine hits. Andrew Evenson worked for 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
