March 18, 2025

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) built a nine-run lead after six-and-half innings Tuesday afternoon over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the non-conference nine-inning contest at Drake Field.  The Trojans held off the Tigers' late comeback for a 10-6 victory, posting their fifth straight victory and seventh win in the last eight meetings in the series.

Dakota State recorded their fifth win in the last six contests, lifting their overall record to 12-9.  Dakota Wesleyan fell to 4-17 overall record.  Both teams are scheduled to play another nine-inning game on April 15 at Flynn Field.

The Trojans begin their season-long 12-game home stand at Flynn Field, hosting Tabor (Kan.) of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference in a four-game series.  The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Dakota State (S.D.) 10, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 6 – FINAL

Both teams went through three scoreless innings before the Trojans took the first lead.  Connor Raney led off the top third frame with a double.  Cassidy Watt drilled a 2-run home run with one out, scoring Raney for DSU 2-0 lead.

After the first two outs of the top fifth inning, Dakota State added two runs to extend their lead.  Raney was hit by pitch and swiped to second base.  Cameron DeMaria drilled an Rbi double to score Raney for 3-0 Trojan lead.

DSU's lead grew to 4-0 as Watt followed up with an RBI single to score DeMaria in the top fifth.

With bases loaded situation in the top sixth inning, DeMaria and Watt recorded back-to-back RBI walks to widen their lead to 6-0.

Dakota State plated three runs in the top seventh, fueled by Aidan Perry's lead off single and swiped to second.  Seth Altwine hit an RBI single to score Perry to make it 7-0 in favor of the Trojans.

Dawson Portner smashed a 2-run home run on the next at-bat and scored Altwine as DSU ballooned their elad to 9-0.

DWU snapped their scoring drought with a run in the bottom half of the seventh inning (DSU led 9-1).

Camaron Haller recorded a single and Altwine added a walk with one out (advanced catcher's courtesy runner Braylon Bear to second base) in the top eighth inning.  Portner hit an RBI single to score Bear as Dakota State led 10-1.

Dakota Wesleyan stormed back in the bottom eighth inning with five runs scored.  With bases loaded situation, Kelbee Woodham recorded an RBI walk to trim their deficit to 10-2.

DWU added four more runs, thanks to Ean Laird's 2-RBI single followed by Landon Ruesink's 2-RBI double (DSU led 10-6) in the bottom eighth inning.

The Tigers left the bases full as the Trojans' defense halted from scoring in the bottom ninth, securing the victory.

DSU outhit DWU 10-9 in the game.  Dakota State had six extra-base hits with four doubles and two home runs.

Watt was 2-of-4 at the plate with a home run, single, and drove in four runs for the Trojans.  Portner added a home run, single, three RBIs, and two walks.  Atlwine had two doubles, an RBI, and a walk.  DeMaria recorded a double, two RBIs, two walks.  Raney and Perry each had a hit and an RBI.

Dakota State recorded seven stolen bases in the game, led by Raney with four stolen bases.  Bear, Perry, and Portner each had a stolen base.
Laird had two singles and two RBIs for the Tigers.  Ruesink added a double and two RBIs.  Lane Darrow recorded two singles.  Caleb Meyers had a double.

Aiden Urbom (W, 2-0) earned the victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He scattered six hits and allowed no runs.  He struck out a career-high 12 times.  Alexander Ferrin worked for 1 2/3 innings in relief.  Curtis Flint tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, adding four strikeouts. 

DSU's pitchers recorded a combined 17 strikeouts in the game.

Emmot Nathan started the game for Dakota Wesleyan, working the first inning.  Bryaden Cherrey (L, 0-1) took the setback after tossing four innings, giving up four runs on four hits.  Broc Berry, Andrew Evenson, Logan Miller, and Statton Corey each pitched one inning in relief.