April 15, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned home Tuesday evening to kick off their five-game baseball home stand at Flynn Field.   The Trojans continued their dominance with rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), earning a 10-4 non-conference finale victory.  DSU collected their 20^th victory of the season, their fifth consecutive season with at least 20 wins (since 2021).

The Trojans improved their overall record to 20-18, while the Tigers fell to 12-26 overall record.  It was the sixth straight victory in the series meeting for DSU, their eighth win in the last nine meetings with DWU. 

Dakota State stays home on Friday and Saturday as they play their final North Star Athletic Association four-game home series.  The Trojans host the NSAA's league-leading team Bellevue (Neb.), playing their first doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m.  Both teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. 

The Trojan baseball team will honor their seniors after the completion of the last home game late Saturday afternoon.

Dakota State (S.D.) 10, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom first inning, despite recording the first two outs.  Cassidy Watt recorded a walk and advanced to third base after a pair of wild pitches committed by the Tigers.

Camaron Haller hit an RBI single to score Watt to give DSU a 1-0 lead in the bottom first.

The Trojans exploded for five runs in the bottom third frame to balloon their lead.  Aidan Perry led off with a walk and swiped to second base.  He advanced to third base after a passed ball committed by DWU.

Watt registered his second walk of the game in the bottom third.  A pick-off throwing error by the Tigers allowed Perry to score home to extend DSU's lead to 2-0 (Watt advanced to third base).

Haller recorded a walk in the bottom third inning, forcing the Tigers for a pitching change with no outs.  George Hogan followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Watt as the Trojans' lead grew to 3-0.

Michael Buchmann, catcher's courtesy runner for Haller, swiped to second base in the bottom third for DSU.  He also advanced to third base after DWU's wild pitch.  Hunter Vikemyr recorded a walk.  Seth Altwine smashed a 3-run home run to score Buchmann and Vikemyr, capping Dakota State's five-run production for a 6-0 lead.

The Trojans led 7-0 after four innings as Watt hit an RBI single to score Connor Raney, who led off with a single, swiped to second base and advanced to third base after DWU's pick-off throwing error.

Vikemyr blasted a lead-off solo home run in the bottom fifth frame for 8-0 lead in favor of DSU.

Dakota Wesleyan snapped their scoring drought with two runs in the top seventh inning.  Carter Olek drilled a double with one out.  Caleb Breuer, pinch hitter for Landon Ruesink, reached on base after a walk.  Shane Cowan hit a ground out to advance Olek to third base and Breuer to second base.

Lane Darrow hit a 2-RBI single to score Olek and Breuer as the Tigers trailed 8-2 in the top seventh.

Dakota State answered with a 9-2 lead in the bottom seventh as Dawson Portner hit an RBI single to score Vikemyr, who recorded a walk and collected a pair of stolen bases.

The Tigers produced three straight singles with one out in the top eighth inning from Tommy Dutton, Caleb Meyers, and Olek.  Olek recorded an RBI single to score Dutton as DWU trimmed DSU's lead to 9-3.

Watt blasted a solo home run with one out in the bottom eighth as Dakota State led 10-3.

Dakota Wesleyan added a run in the top ninth inning to complete the final score.  Darrow hit a single and advanced to second base after a single and a defensive fielding error by the Trojans.  Dexter Payne followed up with an RBI single to score Darrow (10-4 DSU lead).

DWU tallied eight hits in the game compared to DSU with seven hits.  Both teams left nine runners on base.  The Tigers' pitching staff issued nine walks in the game compared to the Trojans' pitching staff with five walks.

Watt led Dakota State with a home run, single, two walks, and drove in two runs.  Altwine had a home run and three RBIs.  Vikemyr collected a home run, RBI, three walks, and two stolen bases.  Portner had a double and an RBI.  Haller recorded a single, an RBI, and two walks.  Raney collected a hit, stolen base, and a run scored.  Perry recorded two walks and a stolen base. 

Darrow was 3-for-5 at the plate with three singles and two RBIs for Dakota Wesleyan.  Olek added a double, single and an RBI.  Payne recorded a single and an RBI.  Dutton and Meyers each had a single.

Treyten Kolar (W, 1-1) earned his first career pitching victory on the mound for DSU.  He worked for seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits.  He struck out a career-high 10 strikeouts.  Alexander Ferrin worked for two innings in relief, giving up two runs on five hits.  He registered three strikeouts.

Dutton (L, 0-1) took the defeat for DWU, starting the game for two-plus innings on the pitching mound.  He allowed four runs (three unearned runs) on one hit and issued five walks.  Emmot Nathan, Statton Corey, and Nolan Dvorak also pitched in relief.