March 14, 2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) established a new school record inning runs scored Friday afternoon, earning a 21-4 four-game series opener over Evangel (Mo.) at the University Baseball Field.  The Trojans poured in 17 runs in the top fifth inning, breaking the previous inning record of 14 runs in the opening inning versus Valley City State (N.D.) at Flynn Field on April 3, 2010.

The second game of the doubleheader was halted due to tornado warning and will complete the remainder of the game Saturday morning at 11 a.m.  The Trojans trail 8-5 in the top sixth inning, despite the Valors scoring eight runs in the bottom fifth inning.

Dakota State will play two other games on Saturday afternoon with Evangel.

Game 1:  Dakota State (S.D.) 21, Evangel (Mo.) 4 – FINAL

The game was scoreless for the first three innings in the four-game series opener.

Dakota State took the first lead in the top fourth inning with two outs.  Camaron Haller blasted a solo home run to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. 

DSU continued their scoring opportunity in the top fourth as Connor Raney hit a single followed by Aidan Perry's hit-by-pitch.  Seth Altwine hit an RBI single to score Raney to extend the Trojans' lead to 2-0.

The Valors scored once in the bottom half of the fourth inning as Clay Palen hit an RBI single to score Evan Baptiste, who reached on base by DSU's defensive error and advanced to second after Quentin Edwards' single (DSU led 2-1).

Dakota State exploded for 17 runs on 13 hits in the top fifth inning.  DSU scored 13 straight runs without recording the first out of the top fifth.  Raney capped the 13-0 run with an RBI double as their lead ballooned to 15-1.

Dawson Porter added an RBI single, followed by a pair of runs scored caused by EU's defensive error to make it 19-1 after five innings for DSU.

The Trojans added a run in the top sixth and seventh innings to post the biggest lead of the game at 21-1. 

Justice Loflin blasted a 3-run home run as the Valors capped a 3-run production in the bottom seventh. 

Dakota State outhit Evangel 21-5 in the game.

Twelve different Trojans players recorded at least a hit in the game, led by Haller with four hits.  He drove in a game-high five runs and scored four times.  He also had a walk.  Raney added three hits (two doubles), two RBIs, and scored twice.  Darcy Barry had three hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored. 

Cassidy Watt had two hits and an RBI for DSU.  Altwine recorded two hits and two RBIs.  Cameron DeMaria had a single and two RBIs.  He recorded two walks.  Portner and Perry each had a hit and an RBI.  David Rodriguez and Hunter Den Boer each had a hit.

Loflin had a home run and three RBIs for the Valors.  Edwards added two hits.  Palen had a single and an RBI. 

Nicholai Arbach (W, 2-2) earned the victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He pitched five innings and yielded an unearned run on three hits.  Keaton Young, Caleb Hoppe, and Cole Drumheller also worked in relief.

Isaac Daley (L, 0-5) took the defeat for Evangel, tossing four innings.  He allowed two runs on four hits.  Jed Montgomery, Will Foster, Chapman Dunn, and Jackson Talburt also pitched in relief. 

Game 2 – Evangel (Mo.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – Top 6^th inning (SUSPENDED)

The Trojans took the first lead in the second game of the doubleheader, thanks to DeMaria's RBI single to score Vikemyr (DSU led 1-0).  Vikemyr led off the top third with a single and swiped to second base.

Dakota State made it 2-0 as Barry smashed a solo home run with one out in the top fourth.

Evangel erupted for eight runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, capped by Palen's RBI double followed by Loflin's RBI single to take an 8-2 lead.

Barry blasted his second home run of the game, hitting a 2-run home run in the top sixth inning.  Perry scored on the same play as the Trojans trailed 8-4.

Vikemyr followed up with a single in the top sixth.  Watt hit an RBI double to score Vikemyr as the Trojans trailed 8-5 with two outs.  The game was suspended due to tornado warning that forced the players to take shelter and postponed the game to Saturday late morning.

The game resumed Saturday morning (March 15) and recorded the final out of the top sixth inning.  The Valors held on to the victory, ending the game in a double play in the seventh inning.

DSU outhit EU 13-9. 

Barry led the Trojans by going 3-of-4 at the plate with two home runs, single, and drove in three runs.  Vikemyr added three singles and scored two times.  Barry and VIkemyr each swiped one base.  Watt and DeMaria each had a hit and an RBI.  Raney and Perry each collected two hits.

Palen collected two doubles and an RBI for Evangel.  Cade Beshore, Edwards, and Loflin each had a hit and an RBI.  Heath Perry had a single and two RBIs. 

Sam Tyrpa (L, 2-3) took the setback on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He worked for 4 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs (five unearned) on eight hits.  Alexander Ferrin worked for one out in the bottom fifth, while Curtis Flink tossed a shutout sixth inning in relief.

Cooper Wilken (W, 2-2) earned the victory for Evangel, tossing five innings.  He gave up two runs on eight hits and registered six strikeouts.  Hayden Larson worked for two outs in the top sixth inning, allowing three runs on four hits.  TJ Newman (S, 1) earned the save after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.