February 7, 2025

STERLINGTON, La. – Dakota State (S.D.) dropped a pair of contests in their baseball season opener Friday on the first day of Cajun Collision at Sterlington Sports Complex.  The Trojans faced a pair of teams from the Sooner Athletic Conference that qualified for the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round last season.  DSU fell to Science & Arts (Oka.) 6-2 and nationally ranked Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 5-0.

Dakota State is 0-2 overall record.  Science & Arts, receiving votes in the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, is 5-3 overall record.  Mid-America Christian, ranked No. 13 in the national preseason poll, improved their overall record to 6-5.

The Trojans continue their action on the second day of the Cajun Collision Saturday, facing McPherson (Kan.) at 11 a.m. and No. 4 ranked LSU-Shreveport (La.) at 6 p.m.

(RV) Science & Arts (Okla.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Dakota State jumped to a 2-0 lead after two innings in the season opener but could not overtime Science & Arts' six unanswered runs.  The Drovers exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to secure the victory.

The Trojans plated two runs in the bottom second inning, thanks to back-to-back lead-off singles from Cory Brownson and Cameron DeMaria.  Hunter Vikemyr recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Brownson to third base and DeMaria to second base.

Cassidy Watt produced an RBI fielder's choice to score Brownson to give DSU a 1-0 lead in the bottom second (DeMaria tagged out at third base). 

The Trojans made it 2-0 as the Drovers committed a defensive error, allowing courtesy runner Seth Altwine to score.

Science & Arts scored once in the top third inning, thanks to a double by Devin Alvarez with one out.  Gage Ninness followed up with an RBI single to score Alvarez as USA trimmed DSU's lead to 2-1.

The Drovers scored five runs in the top fifth inning, highlighted by Alvarez's 2-RBI double.  Peyton McDowall capped the scoring run with a 2-run home run blast to right center to grab a 6-2 lead.

DSU was unable to make a comeback as Science & Arts secured the victory.

DeMaria led the Trojans' offense attack with a double and single.  Aidan Perry and Brownson each added a single.  Watt and Camaron Haller each added an RBI. 

Alvarez led Science & Arts with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored.  Ninness added two hits and an RBI.  McDowall had a home run and two RBIs.  Nolan Herchock added a hit.

Sam Tyrpa (L, 0-1) took the setback on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He worked 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (three unearned) and registered six strikeouts.  Aiden Urbom tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief and recorded two strikeouts.

Brian Ereu (W, 2-1) earned the victory after pitching six innings for Science & Arts.  He yielded two runs (one unearned) on four hits and recorded nine strikeouts.  Tristan Perry tossed a scoreless seventh inning in relief with two strikeouts.

(13) Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

The Evangels held the Trojans to one single in the nightcap to earn a 5-0 shutout victory.

After the first two outs recorded in the top second inning, MACU set up a bases loaded situation after a pair of hit-by-pitches from Carlos Medina and Giordany Mendoza and a single by Zachary Stark.

Mid-America Christian led 1-0 after an RBI walk by D'Andre Gaines to score Medina.  The Evangels made it 2-0 as Mendoza scored on DSU's wild pitch.  After another bases loaded situation, Noel McGarry-Doyle hit a 2-RBI single to balloon MACU's lead to 4-0.

The Evangels made it 5-0 in the top fifth inning as Medina blasted a solo home run with two outs.

George Hogan recorded a single in the bottom seventh inning for the Trojans and could not convert their scoring chances.

Vikemyr also had a walk for DSU.

Medina had a home run, an RBI, and scored twice for MACU.  McGarry-Doyle added a single and two RBIs.  Brett Justice and Stark each added a single.

Vikemyr (L, 0-1) took the defeat after working six innings on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He allowed five runs on four hits and registered six strikeouts.  Keaton Young tossed a shutout seventh inning in relief.

Brock Cordes (W, 1-0) eared the complete game victory for Mid-America Christian.  He struck out 11 DSU's batters.