March 9, 2025

TEXARKANA, Texas – Dakota State (S.D.) and Texas A&M-Texarkana faced rain showers and wet conditions Sunday afternoon in the four-game series opener at Hobbs High School.  The Eagles rallied back in the final inning to defeat the Trojans 4-3, while DSU earned a 16-7 game two victory to earn a split in their first all-time series meeting.

Dakota State is 6-7 overall record and snapped Texas A&M-Texarkana's six-game winning streak in the second game (17-5 overall record).

Both teams play another doubleheader on Monday afternoon at 12 p.m.

Game 1:  Texas A&M-Texarkana 4, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

Darcy Barry led off the game with a double for Dakota State.  After Aidan Perry hit a fly out to right field to advance Barry to third base, Barry scored home after the Eagles' passed pitch to give DSU a 1-0 lead.

Texas A&M Texarkana answered with a run in the bottom fourth frame.  Conner Owens led off with a double and advanced to third base after Jason Armendariz's fly out to center field.  Owens scored home after DSU's passed ball with two outs, tying the game 1-1.

After the first two outs were recorded in the top sixth inning, Cameron DeMaria drilled a double.  Hunter Vikemyr followed up with an RBI double to score Tyler Hoffman, pinch runner for DeMaria, as the Trojans regained their lead 2-1.

DSU added a run in the final inning.  Cameron Haller, pinch hitter for Seth Altwine, was hit-by-pitch with one out.  He advanced to second base after Dawson Portner's ground out.  Barry hit an RBI double to score Haller as the Trojans extended their lead to 3-1 in the top seventh.

The Eagles mounted a furious comeback in the bottom half of the seventh inning.  Brandon Riley hit a single with one out.  The Trojans committed an error on the next at-bat as Adam Garren reached safely on first base and Riley advanced to second base.

Freddie Madera followed up with a single to set up a bases loaded situation for Texas A&M Texarkana in the bottom seventh.  Austin Kerns produced a 2-RBI single to score Gabe Baker, pinch runner for Riley, and Garren and tied the game 3-3.

Joey Spence was hit-by-pitch as the Eagles set up a bases loaded situation for the Eagles in the bottom seventh.  Owens hit a fielder's choice as Madera was out at home as the Trojans prevented Texas A&M Texarkana from scoring.

Armendariz then was hit by pitch, earning the game-winning RBI and scored Kerns as the Eagles secured a 4-3 victory with two outs remaining in the bottom seventh.

Texas A&M Texarkana outhit Dakota State 8-6 in the game.

Barry led the Trojans by going 3-of-4 at the plate with three doubles, run scored, and an RBI for DSU.  DeMaria and Portner each added a double.  Vikemyr had a single and an RBI.  Cassidy Watt registered a walk.

Armendariz and Owens each hit a double for the Eagles.  Madera had two hits.  Kerns collected a single and two RBIs.  Jonathan Rios, Riley, and Garren each had a hit.

Nicholai Arbach (L, 1-2) took the defeat on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He tossed 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (two unearned) on eight hits.  He recorded three strikeouts.

Blake Taylor started the game for Texas A&M Texarkana.  He worked for 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs (one unearned) on four hits.  Harrison Barnett (W, 4-0) earned the victory in relief, tossing 1 1/3 innings.  He allowed a run on two hits.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 16, Texas A&M Texarkana 7 – FINAL

Dakota State scored the first seven runs in the second game of the doubleheader and never trailed for a 16-7 victory.

The Trojans started the scoring run in the top second frame.  Haller and Connor Raney hit back-to-back singles.  Altwine added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation.  Portner produced a 2-RBI single to score Haller and Raney as DSU grabbed a 2-0 lead.

Dakota State poured in five runs in the top fourth inning, ignited by three straight singles to start the inning by Vikemyr, Haller, and Raney for a bases loaded situation.  DSU made it 3-0 as Altwine recorded an RBI walk to score Vikemyr.

The Trojans added four more runs, highlighted by Barry's RBI single and Watt's RBI sacrifice fly to balloon their lead to 7-0.

Texas A&M\-Texarkana plated three runs in the bottom fourth inning after Graydon Martin's RBI single after a bases loaded situation.  The Eagles added two more runs on the same play caused by DSU's defensive error as the Eagles trailed 7-3 after four innings.

DeMaria highlighted the top sixth inning with a 3-run home run blast, scoring Portner who led off with a double and Perry who recorded a walk.  The Trojans led 10-3 after five-and-half innings.

Jose Parreno drilled a lead-off triple in the bottom sixth and scored home on DSU's passed ball as the Eagles trailed 10-4.

Dakota State scored six runs in the top seventh inning, thanks to Perry's 2-RBI single and DeMaria's second 3-run home run of the game.  The Trojans extended their lead to 16-4.

Texas A&M-Texarkana scored three runs in the bottom seventh, fueled by three RBI doubles from Owens, Jonathan Rios, and Parreno.  DSU secured the win as the Eagles left one runner on base when the game ended.

DSU outhit Texas A&M-Texarkana 15-12 in the game.

DeMaria finished the game by going 2-of-4 at the plate with a pair of home runs and drove in a game-high six runs for the Trojans.  Portner had a double, two singles, three RBIs, and three runs scored.  Haller had three singles, and three runs scored.  Perry registered a single and two RBIs.  Barry and Altwine each had a hit and an RBI.  Vikemyr tallied two singles.

Parreno was 3-of-4 at the plate with a triple, two singles and an RBI for the Eagles.  Owens and Rios each added two hits and an RBI. 

Sam Tyrpa (W, 2-2) earned the victory after working for six innings for Dakota State.  He allowed four runs (two unearned) on eight hits.  He also recorded seven strikeouts.  Aiden Urbom tossed the seventh inning in relief.

Dylan Cabral (L, 2-1) recorded the defeat after tossing four innings for Texas A&M-Texarkana.  He gave up seven runs (two unearned) on eight hits.  Thomas Ruehle, Aidan VanRider, Zachry Moore, and Kaleb Dooley each worked in relief.