April 3, 2023

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (April 3, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan baseball team (24-9 overall record, 7-1 NSAA record) continues their North Star Athletic Association action Friday and Saturday with another four-game series.  The Trojans return home at Flynn Field for the first time since March 16, hosting Dickinson State (N.D.) (6-25 overall record, 3-8 NSAA conference record).

The Trojans and the Blue Hawks play a four-game series with a doubleheader, starting Friday at 1 p.m.  Both teams wrap up their four-game series on Saturday with another doubleheader at 12 noon.

Dakota State went 3-1 record in the North Star Athletic Association four-game series at Viterbo (Wis.) last weekend.  The Trojans won the series opener 9-6 and fell in the second game by the score of 3-2 on March 29.  DSU earned a pair of one-run victories on March 30 by the scores of 5-4 and 2-1 in 10 innings.  It was the final conference four-game series for the Trojans and the V-Hawks (VU leaving the NSAA conference after this season).

Dickinson State won the previous three games, including a 2-1 record in the North Star tripleheader with Mayville State (N.D.) on March 29.  The Comets won the first game 9-7 before the Blue Hawks held on to win the next two games by the scores of 6-5 and 5-3.  DiSU earned a 5-4 non-conference victory over NCAA Division II Mary (N.D.) on April 2.

Dakota State had won six times in the last eight meetings with Dickinson State.  The Trojans went 3-1 record in the four-game series last season in Dickinson, N.D.

Next Up:  Dakota State continues their North Star Athletic Association action next Friday & Saturday on the road at Valley City State (N.D.).  DSU returns home on April 16 for a nine-inning game with Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) hosts Dickinson State (N.D.) at Flynn Field for the first time since April 17, 2016, when they played a rare North Star Athletic Association tripleheader. 
+ The Trojans went 3-1 record in the last NSAA's four-game series in Dickinson, N.D., last season.  Dakota State won the first three games (5-4, 8-0, and 8-2) before falling 2-1 in the four-game series finale.
+ Dakota State is 4-0 record at Flynn Field this season, winning the last nine home games dating back to last season where they went 5-0 home record.  Dickinson State is 3-14 record on the road this season.
+ DSU plays their remaining NSAA conference contests on every weekend during the month of April, with a pair of four-game series at home and a pair of four-game series on the road on back-to-back weekends (at Valley City State, N.D. on April 12-13 and at No. 13 ranked Bellevue, Neb. on April 19-20).
+ Dakota State and Dickinson State did not meet during the 2022 season for the North Star's four-game series due to weather.  They met once in the NSAA postseason tournament's loser out for a spot to the championship game, won by the Trojans with a walk-off victory by Walker Hultgren in Forest City, Iowa, on May 9, 2022.
+ DSU have 17 games remaining on their 2024 baseball schedule, concluding at home on April 26-27 versus Waldorf (Iowa).  The NSAA postseason tournament takes place in Dickinson, N.D., from May 3 through May 6 (if necessary, May 7).
+ Dakota State earned at least 20 victories for the fourth consecutive season under head coach Derrion Hardie.

Noteworthy...
TROJANS AT FLYNN FIELD:  Dakota State (S.D.) is 4-0 record this season at Flynn Field after sweeping the North Star Athletic Association four-game series opener over Mayville State (N.D.) on March 15-16.  The Trojans are currently on a nine-game winning streak at home since last season, where they defeated rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and swept NSAA four-game series with Valley City State (N.D.).   After this weekend's home series, DSU plays their final home four-game series versus Waldorf (Iowa) on April 26-27.

AROUND THE NORTH STAR:   Bellevue (Neb.) and Dakota State (S.D.) each have one North Star Athletic Association setback this season.  The Bruins lead the conference with 11-1 record and enter their bye week in league play.  The Trojans are 7-1 record in the conference.  Viterbo (Wis.) is third with 5-7 conference record, followed by Valley City State (N.D.) at 3-5 record, Mayville State (N.D.) at 4-7 record, Dickinson State (N.D.) at 3-8 record, and Waldorf (Iowa) at 2-6 conference record.
 
TROJANS IN THE NAIA NATIONAL RANKS:   According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State ranks 11th in the nation in batting average of .342.  Prior to this weekend's series, the Trojans were 348-of-1,017 at the plate with 245 runs batted in (RBIs).  DSU is also fifth in the NAIA in doubles with 85 doubles.  Hunter Vikemyr is ninth in the nation in earned run average (ERA) of 1.71 for Dakota State.

DSU BASEBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SCHEDULE UPDATE:  The Dakota State developmental baseball team returns to action for the first time since Feb. 26 on Wednesday.  The Trojans travel to Northwestern (Iowa) for a doubleheader in Orange City, Iowa.  DSU also plays a doubleheader on Monday at Dordt (Iowa) and returns home on Wednesday, April 10 against NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) at Flynn Field.

Trojans and V-Hawks split NSAA doubleheader
La Crosse, Wis. (March 29, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) returned to the North Star Athletic Association action at Viterbo (Wis.) Outdoor Athletics Complex.  The Trojans and the V-Hawks opened the four-game series with a doubleheader split. 
 
DSU raced to an 8-0 early lead after the first two-and-half innings in the first game.   VU trimmed the Trojans' lead to 8-6 after six innings.  Dakota State added a run in the top seventh inning and secured a 9-6 victory.

Ryan McDaniel powered DSU's offense attack by going 4-of-4 at the plate with a home run, three singles, and four RBIs.  Dawson Portner added a home run, double, and an RBI.  Ned Ceklic had three walks.  Walker Hultgren had a single and two RBIs.  Cory Brownson and Aidan Perry each had a hit.  Sam Tyrpa (W, 4-2) eared the victory, while Johan Freudenburg collected his first save of the season. 

Dakota State fell short in the second game, despite a walk-off victory in the bottom ninth for VU's 3-2 win.  The V-Hawks took the first lead in the bottom fourth at 1-0 before the Trojans took the 2-1 lead in the top sixth frame.

McDaniel paced DSU with a double and single.  Cassidy Watt added a double, single, and an RBI.  Ceklic and Brownson each had a single, walk.  Hunter Vikemyr took the defeat on the pitching mound after tossing 8 2/3 innings, giving up three runs (two unearned) on three hits.  He registered six strikeouts.

DSU sweeps VU in final NSAA series meeting
La Crosse, Wis. (March 30, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) earned a pair of one-run victories in the as they closed the chapter in the North Star Athletic Association four-game series with Viterbo (Wis.) at Viterbo Outdoor Athletics Complex. 

The V-Hawks opened the first game with a 2-0 lead, while the Trojans plated three runs in the top third.  DSU extended their lead to 5-3 lead after five innings and held off VU's late comeback in the bottom seventh for a 5-4 victory.

Ryan McDaniel had a double and drove in three runs for Dakota State.  Jeremy Green, Cory Brownson, Aidan Perry, and Dawson Portner each added a single.  Will Clair (W, 6-1) earned the victory after working for 4 1/3 innings.  Curtis Flint (S, 1) earned a save after pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief.  He struck out VU's batters six times.

DSU and VU scored a run in the first inning and did not score for the rest of the game, forcing the game into extra innings.  The Trojans scored a run in the top 10th inning and held on to a 2-1 victory.

Walker Hultgren tallied two this for DSU.  Hunter Vikemyr, Ceklic, and Cameron DeMaria each added a hit.  Nicholai Arbach toss 7 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts, while Alex Swack earned the victory in relief.

Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (April 3, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State (S.D.) leads the conference in batting average of .342.  The Trojans also lead the league with 85 doubles and second in the conference with 33 home runs.  The Trojans lead the North Star conference with 4.05 earned run average (ERA). 

Ryan McDaniel leads the conference in batting average with .448, while Cory Brownson is second in the league with .430 batting average for the Trojans.  Jeremy Green collects 39 runs batted in (RBIs), which is the most RBIs in the conference.  He also leads the conference with 21 stolen bases, while Dawson Portner is fifth with 10 stolen bases.

Hunter Vikemyr holds the league's leading ERA with 1.71, followed by Will Clair second with 2.91 ERA for DSU.  Sam Tyrpa is fifth with 4.00 ERA.  Clair and Vikemyr each lead the conference with six pitching wins.  Tyrpa is third in the league with 60 strikeouts, followed by Vikemyr fourth with 54 strikeouts, and Nicholai Arbach fifth with 48 strikeouts.  JD Kirchner is third in the NSAA with three saves.

2024 DSU Baseball team leaders

· Hits:  Ryan McDaniel—52 hits

· Batting Average:  Ryan McDaniel—.448 batting average (52-of-116 at-bats)

· Slugging Percentage:  Cory Brownson—.696 slugging percentage (23 singles, 6 doubles, 5 home runs)

· Runs Batted In (RBIs):  Jeremy Green—39 RBIs

· Doubles:  Ryan McDaniel—14 doubles

· Triples:  Bubba Thompson—2 triples

· Home Runs:  Walker Hultgren—6 home runs

· Total Bases:  Ryan McDaniel—78 total bases

· Runs Scored:  Seth Altwine, Jeremy Green—31 runs

· Walks:  Ned Ceklic—21 walks

· Hit-by-Pitch:  Dawson Portner—12 hit-by-pitches

· Stolen Bases: Jeremy Green—21 stolen bases

· On-base percentage:  Cory Brownson—.526 on-base percentage

· Innings Pitched:  Hunter Vikemyr—47 1/3 innings

· Earned Runs Average (ERA):  Hunter Vikemyr—1.71 earned run average (9 earned runs in 47 2/3 innings)

· Strikeouts (Pitching):   Sam Tyrpa—60 strikeouts

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

· Wins:  Hunter Vikemyr, Will Clair—6 wins

· Saves:  JD Kirchner—3 saves

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