February 28, 2025

STERLING, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) poured in a season-high 14 runs in the first game for a 14-1 victory over host-team Sterling (Kan.) in the non-conference baseball action Friday at SC Baseball Field.  The Trojans extended their winning streak to four games after earning a 5-2 game two victory over the Warriors.

Dakota State improved to 4-5 overall record, earning their fifth straight victory in the series meeting with the Warriors.  Sterling, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, fell to 4-9 overall record.

Both teams will complete their four-game series on Saturday with another doubleheader at 11 a.m.

Game 1:  Dakota State (S.D.) 14, Sterling (Kan.) 1 – FINAL

Dakota State used a fast start in the first game of the four-game series, exploding for four runs in the opening inning.  Darcy Barry ignited with a single and advanced to second base after George Hogan's hit-by-pitch with one out.  Cassidy Watt recorded a walk with two outs to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.

Camaron Haller and Hunter Vikemyr produced back-to-back RBIs walks to give DSU a 2-0 lead in the top first inning, scoring Barry and Hogan.  Dakota State extended their lead to 4-0 after back-to-back RBI singles by Seth Altwine (scoring Dawson Portner – courtesy runner for Watt), and Connor Raney (scoring Haller).

DSU plated two runs in the top third frame.  After Vikemyr hit a lead off single and Raney added a walk, Barry drilled an RBI double to score Vikemyr for a 5-0 lead.  The Trojans made it 6-0 as Aidan Perry hit an RBI ground out to score Raney.

Dakota State ballooned their lead to 7-0 after Cameron DeMaria blasted a lead-off home run to start the fourth inning.  Vikemyr added an RBI double, while Raney collected an RBI single to make it 9-0 in favor of the Trojans after four innings.

DeMaria recorded an RBI single in the top fifth inning for DSU 10-0 lead. 

The Trojans produced four walks in the top sixth inning, highlighted by three straight walks from Vikemyr, Altwine, and Raney to start the inning.  With bases loaded situation, Hogan was hit by pitch and earned an RBI to score Altwine for an 11-0 lead. 

DeMaria followed up with an RBI walk and Watt hit a 2-RBI single to extend DSU's lead to 14-0 in the top sixth frame.

Sterling snapped their scoring drought with a run in the bottom half of the sixth inning by Andrew Dutro's RBI single.

The Trojans outhit the Warriors 10-3 in the game. 

DeMaria led Dakota State with a home run, single, and drove in three runs.  Vikemyr and Raney each added two hits, two runs, two RBIs, and two walks.  Barry tallied a double, single, and an RBI.  Watt collected a single and two RBIs.  Altwine recorded a single, RBI, run, and walk.  Perry, Hogan, and Haller each had an RBI.
 
Dutro had a single and an RBI for Sterling.  Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas and Joseph Almanza each added a hit.

Nicholai Arbach (W, 1-1) tossed a complete game victory for the Trojans.  He yielded the Warriors to one run on three hits.  He recorded four strikeouts.

Nehemiah House (L, 1-4) recorded the defeat on the pitching mound for the Sterling, working for 2 1/3 innings and giving up five runs on four hits.  Eric Villa, Cooper Loveland, Colin Clark, and Troy Sackett each pitched in relief.

Game 2:  Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Sterling (Kan.) 2 – FINAL

Dakota State took the first lead in the top second inning of the second game and never trailed.

With Haller on first base after a fielder's choice in the top second, Vikemyr reached safely caused by SC's defensive error and allowed Haller to score for 1-0 DSU lead.

The Trojans made it 2-0 in the top fourth inning as Watt blasted a lead-off home run.  With bases loaded after Warriors' defensive miscue as Haller reached safely, followed by Vikemyr's walk, and Altwine's hit-by-pitch, Barry hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Haller to extend Dakota State's lead to 3-0.

DSU made it 4-0 in the top 5^th inning as Watt hit an RBI single to score Hogan, who opened the inning by reaching base after SC's defensive error.

Sterling scored twice in the bottom half of the fifth inning, highlighted by Ezavien Campos' RBI double and Dutro's RBI single.  The Warriors trimmed the Trojans' lead to 4-2 after five innings.

Dakota State added a run in the top seventh inning to round out the final score.  DeMaria led off with a double and advanced to third after Watt's single.  Haller hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score DeMaria to make it 5-2 in favor of the Trojans.

The Warriors left a runner on base in the bottom seventh, securing the victory for DSU.

Both teams tallied eight hits and nine runners left on base in the game. 

Watt paced Dakota State's offense attack by going 4-of-4 at the plate with a home run, three singles and drove in two runs.  DeMaria added a double and a run.  Haller and Barry each had a single and an RBI.  Raney recorded a single.  Vikemyr registered a walk and an RBI.

Campos led Sterling with two hits and an RBI.  Dutro added a hit and an RBI.  Tyler Gates and Huerta Cardenas each recorded a hit.  Landen Volner tallied two singles.

Braylon Bear (W, 1-0) earned his first career collegiate win on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.  Aiden Urbom (S, 1) earned the save after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.  He gave up three hits.

Jace Phillips (L, 0-1) recorded the defeat on the pitching mound for Sterling.  He pitched three innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on three hits.  Aaron Elasser tossed the final four innings in relief, allowing two runs on five hits.