February 24, 2025

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The fifth inning highlighted a total of 11 runs combined by both Dakota State (S.D.) and NAIA's No. 25 nationally ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on the first day of the Tiger Classic at Sauder Field.  The Trojans plated four runs to break a 3-3 tie into a 7-3 lead in the top half of the fifth inning, while the Pioneers poured in seven runs in the bottom half and held on to a 10-7 victory.

Dakota State fell to 0-5 overall record.  MidAmerica Nazarene, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, improved to 4-2 overall record.

The Trojans continued their action on the second day of the Tiger Classic.  DSU faces Midland (Neb.) at 11:30 a.m., followed by a contest against host-team Baker (Kan.) at 2 p.m.  Both games are seven innings.

(25) MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 7 – FINAL

Darcy Barry smashed a lead-off home run to kick off the game, giving the Trojans a 1-0 early lead in the top first inning. 

The Trojans continued their offensive attack in the top first with a single by Aidan Perry, followed by back-to-back walks by George Hogan and Cory Brownson to set a bases loaded situation.  Hunter Vikemyr hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Hogan as DSU extended their lead to 2-0.

MidAmerica Nazarene answered with a run scored in the bottom first.  Drew Woodley hit a solo home run with one out as the Pioneers trimmed their deficit to 2-1.

Dakota State extended their lead in top fourth frame with a run scored.  Camaron Haller led off the inning with a single.  He advanced to second base after MNU's wild pitch.  Connor Raney recorded a walk.  Perry hit a single to set up a bases loaded situation.

Hogan hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Haller as DSU led 3-1 in the top fourth.

The Pioneers tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom fourth, thanks to back-to-back lead-off solo home runs by Willy Borquez and Sean Maple.

With bases loaded in the top fifth inning with one out, Haller blasted a grand slam as DSU grabbed a 7-3 lead.

MNU erupted for seven runs in the bottom fifth inning to overtake the lead, fueled by Javier Melendez's lead-off home run (DSU led 7-4).

The Pioneers continued their offensive attack as five straight batters reaching safely on base, capped by an RBI double from Christopher Lugo to tie the game 7-7.

Woodley added an RBI single, while Kaden Owens added 2-RBI single to make it 10-7 in favor of MidAmerica Nazarene in the bottom fourth.

Dakota State was unable to come back in the final inning, leaving two runners on base when the game ended despite a double from Haller and a single by Raney.

MNU outhit DSU 11-10 in the game.  The Pioneers left nine runners on base compared to the Trojans eight runners left on base.

Haller was 3-of-4 at the plate for Dakota State with a home run, double and drove in a game-high four RBIs.  Perry added two singles.  Barry had a home run, an RBI, and walked twice.  Brownson had a single and two walks.  Cameron DeMaria and Raney each added a hit.

Woodley and Owens each tallied two hits and two RBIs for MNU.  Lugo added a double, single, and an RBI.  Melendez, Borquez, and Maple each recorded a hit and an RBI. 

Nicholai Arbach started the game on the pitching mound for the Trojans, tossing four innings.  He allowed three runs on four hits and registered four strikeouts.  Hayden Leighty and Treyten Kolar (L, 0-1) each worked in the bottom fifth inning in relief, with Kolar recording the defeat.  Aiden Urbom tossed the final two innings in relief.

MidAmerica Nazarene used seven different pitchers in the game.  Luis Lopez started the game in the first inning and allowed two runs on two hits.  Owen Chaffin tossed two scoreless innings in relief.  Logan Burbach worked for one inning, followed by Jackson Noland in the fifth inning.  Preston Graber (W, 2-0) earned the victory after tossing the fifth inning, allowing three runs on two hits.  Bryce Brecklin pitched 1 2/3 scoreless inning, while Reece Helland (S, 2) earned the save tossing the final out.