April 12, 2025

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) edged Dakota State (S.D.) in a pair of North Star Athletic Association baseball action Saturday afternoon at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.  The Blue Hawks won by scores of 6-2 and 6-5 in ten innings to secure the NSAA four-game series victory over the Trojans.

DSU fell to 19-18 overall record, while DiSU improved to 14-23 overall record.  Both teams are 6-6 record in the North Star Athletic Association contests.

Dakota State returns home to kick off their final five-game home stand at Flynn Field, hosting rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a nine-inning game Tuesday evening.  The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. in Madison, S.D.

Game 1 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Dakota State was unable to grab the first lead of the game in the opening inning after back-to-back singles from Aidan Perry and Cassidy Watt followed by Cameron DeMaria's walk with one out.  The top first inning ended with a double play defensively for the Blue Hawks.

With runners on third and first bases in the bottom first, catcher's courtesy Sawyer Bryner stole home for DiSU's 1-0 lead.

Dawson Porter led off the top third inning by reaching safely on first base after DiSU's defensive error.  He advanced to second base after Connor Raney's ground out.  Cassidy Watt drilled an RBI double to score Portner as the Trojans tied the game 1-1.

The Blue Hawks answered with a run in the bottom half of the third inning.  Cameron Erickson reached safely on base after DSU's defensive error.  Bryner, courtesy runner for Erickson, swiped to second base and advanced to third after DSU's wild pitch. 

Jace Buchanan hit a ground out RBI to score Bryner as Dickinson State regained their lead 2-1 in the bottom third.

The Blue Hawks' lead grew to 3-1 in the bottom fourth as Luis Rodriguez hit a solo home run.

Cameron DeMaria blasted a lead-off solo home run in the top sixth inning as the Trojans trailed 3-2.

Dickinson State answered with three runs in the bottom sixth.  With bases loaded situation and one out, Buchanan registered an RBI walk followed by Wyatt Wilharm's 2-RBI single as DiSU ballooned their lead to 6-2.

The Trojans were unable to make a comeback in the final inning, securing the victory for the Blue Hawks.

DiSU outhit DSU 7-6 in the game.  The Trojans recorded three defensive errors compared to the Blue Hawks' one error. 

Watt finished the game by going 2-for-3 with a double, single, and an RBI for Dakota State.  Perry added two singles.  DeMaria had a home run, RBI, and walk.  George Hogan had a single.

Wilharm led the Blue Hawks with two singles and two RBIs.  Rodriguez added a home run and an RBI.  Buchanan had a single and two RBIs.  Erickson, Ty Farwell, and Kadin Finders each had a single.

Hunter Vikemyr (L, 5-4) recorded the setback after working four innings on the mound for DSU.  He allowed three runs (one unearned) on four hits.  Bryalon Bear pitched 1 1/3 innings I relief, giving up three runs on two hits.  Aiden Urbom worked the final two outs in the bottom sixth.

Tate Williams (W, 2-3) tossed a complete game victory for DiSU.  He limited the Trojans to two runs (one unearned) on six hits.

Game 2 – Dickinson State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 – FINAL/10 innings

The game was scoreless through five-and-half innings in the four-game series finale.

The Blue Hawks scored the game's first runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning.  After John-Michael Gonzalez, Jr. reached on base by a walk, he advanced to second base after Rodriguez's ground out.  Jadyn Roberts drilled an RBI double to score Gonzalez, Jr. for 1-0 DiSU lead.

Dickinson State extended their lead to 2-0 as Moses Dokes hit an RBI single to score Roberts in the bottom sixth.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought in the top seventh inning, sparked by three doubles.  Vikemyr hit a single with one out and advanced to third after Seth Altwine's double.  Camaron Haller, pinch hitter for Darcy Barry, drilled a 2-RBI double to score Vikemyr and Altwine as the Trojans tied the game 2-2.

Portner followed up with an RBI double to score Barry, who reentered the game, as DSU took a 3-2 lead in the top seventh.

The Blue Hawks answered with three runs in the bottom seventh.  Buchanan and Wilharm led off with back-to-back singles.  Gonzalez, Jr. hit an RBI double to score Buchanan as DiSU knotted the game 3-3 (Wilharm advanced to third).

Dickinson State regained their lead to 5-3 after Rodriguez's 2-RBI single to score Wilharm and Gonzalez, Jr.

Dakota State mounted a comeback in the top ninth frame.  Vikemyr and Altwine led off with back-to-back walks.  Both recorded a stolen base (Vikemyr to third base and Altwine to second base).  Portner reached safely on base after DiSU's defensive error, collecting an RBI to score Vikemyr as the Trojans trailed 5-4.

Cameron Kittridge, pinch hitter for Raney, followed up with an RBI single to score Altwine as Dakota State tied the game 5-5.

Dickinson State recorded three straight outs in the bottom ninth, as Dakota State forced the game into extra innings. 

After DSU registered three straight outs, DiSU scored once in the bottom tenth to secure the victory.  Dokes led off the bottom tenth with a single.  Farwell was hit-by-pitch with one out and advanced Nathaniel Jilek, pinch runner for Dokes, to second base. 

Buchanan hit a walk off RBI single with two outs to score Jilek, giving Dickinson State a 6-5 victory.

The Blue Hawks collected 11 hits in the game compared to the Trojans 10 hits.

Altwine, Perry, and Watt each tallied two hits for Dakota State.  Altwine swiped two bases.  Haller and Portner each had a double and drove in two runs.  Vikemyr had a single and two runs scored.  Kittridge recorded a single and an RBI. 

Buchanan was 3-for-5 at the plate with three singles and an RBI for Dickinson State.  Gonzalez, Jr. added two hits and an RBI.  Dokes had three singles and an RBI.  Rodriguez recorded a single and two RBIs. 

Alex Swack started the game on the pitching mound for the Trojans.  He tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits.  He registered seven strikeouts.  Keaton Young worked for one out in relief.  Hayden Leighty (L, 0-2) took the setback, tossing 3 2/3 innings in relief.  He gave up one run on four hits and recorded three strikeouts.

Trent Richter pitched 6 2/3 innings on the mound for the Blue Hawks, giving up three runs on eight hits.  He had five strikeouts.  Carlos Molina, Jr. pitched two innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits.  Trent Chavez (W, 1-0) tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings to earn the pitching win.