April 5, 2025

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off their second North Star Athletic Association baseball four-game series Saturday afternoon at Drake Field, earning a doubleheader sweep over Valley City State (N.D.).  The Trojans shut down the Vikings 5-0 in the first game and rallied for an 11-7 victory in the second game after their five-run explosion in the eighth inning.

A total of 45 strikeouts combined by both teams and both games were registered for the day.  It was DSU's fourth straight victory in the series meeting, their 10^th victory in the last 11 meetings since April 23, 2023.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 16-15 and 3-3 record in the North Star Athletic Association contests.  Valley City State dropped their sixth straight North Star contest, falling to 15-20 overall record and 0-6 NSAA conference record. 

DSU and VCSU play another doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Sanford Sports Complex (Field #4).  The first game of the doubleheader kicks off at 1 p.m.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Valley City State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL

After two-and-half scoreless innings in the first game of the four-game series (seven-inning game), Dakota State scored the game's first run of the game thanks to Dawson Portner's double with one out.  Connor Raney followed up with an RBI single to score Portner to give DSU a 1-0 lead.

Dakota State ballooned their lead in the bottom sixth frame after a pair of home runs, sparked by Cassidy Watt's solo home run for DSU's 2-0 lead. 

Cameron DeMaria and Darcy Barry followed with back-to-back walks in the bottom sixth.  Hunter Vikemyr smashed a 3-run home run to left center as the Trojans' lead grew to 5-0, scoring Camaron Haller (pinch runner for DeMaria) and Barry.

Nicholai Arbach (W, 5-2) shut down VCSU in the final inning with three straight outs, securing the victory for DSU.  He tossed his third straight complete game victory, limiting the Vikings to three singles.  Arbach struck out Vikings' batters nine times.

DSU outhit VCSU 7-3 in the game.

Vikemyr finished the game by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, single, and drove in three runs for Dakota State.  Watt added a home run and an RBI.  Raney collected two singles and an RBI.  He had a stolen base.  Portner had a double and a run scored.  George Hogan added single.  Barry had two walks.

Aidan Perry, Barry, and Hogan were part of DSU's two double plays, defensively. 

Jamel Chabot led the Vikings with two singles.  Cody Wielgosh added a hit.  Porter Jorgenson, Kaden Rozdeba, and Brady Papineau each recorded a walk.

Hunter Magnuson (L, 3-3) took the setback on the pitching mound for Valley City State.  He worked for 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.  He struck out DSU's batters 11 times.  Jay Mendez recorded the final out of the bottom sixth inning in relief.

Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 11, Valley City State (N.D.) 7 – FINAL

Dakota State overcame a pair of offensive outbursts by Valley City State in the second game of the doubleheader (nine-inning game), roaring with five runs in the bottom eighth inning to rally for the victory.

The Trojans took the first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom first inning.  Raney led off with a walk and swiped to second base.  Perry was hit-by-pitch.  DSU took a 1-0 lead when DeMaria hit an RBI single to score Raney (Perry advanced to second base).

After a wild pitch to advance Perry to third base and DeMaria to second base in the bottom first, Vikemyr produced an RBI single to score Perry as the Trojans' lead grew to 2-0.

Valley City State snapped their scoring drought in the top fourth inning, despite recording the first two outs.  Alexis Velasco and Jaden Babiuk hit back-to-back singles.  Brady Papineau hit a 3-run home run as the Vikings overtook a 3-2 lead.

Dakota State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to regain their lead, thanks to Seth Altwine's 2-run home run to score Hogan who led off with a single.  DSU led 4-3 after four innings.

The Trojans widened their lead to 6-3 in the bottom fifth inning as Hogan blasted a 2-run home run to left center.

VCSU exploded for four runs in the top sixth inning, capped by Chabot's RBI double for a 7-6 lead.  Diesel Goya also hit 2-RBI single earlier in the inning.

Dakota State mounted a furious comeback after recording the first two outs of the bottom eighth inning.  Portner was hit-by-pitch, while Raney added a single followed by a walk by Perry to set up a bases loaded situation.

The Trojans regained their lead as Watt hit a 2-RBI single through the left side, scoring Portner and Raney for an 8-7 lead.

DSU continued their scoring run as DeMaria reached safely on base after VCSU's defensive error in the bottom eighth.  Barry recorded an RBI walk to score Perry as the Trojans' lead grew to 9-7.

Dakota State made it 11-7 in the bottom eighth as Vikemyr hit a 2-RBI single to right center, scoring Daniel Leshner (catcher's courtesy runner for Watt) and Haller (pinch runner for DeMaria).

Valley City State left a runner on base when the game ended, earning the victory for DSU.

The Vikings tallied 13 hits in the game compared to the Trojans 11 hits.

Vikemyr collected two singles and three RBIs for DSU.  Hogan added a home run, single, and two RBIs.  DeMaria had two singles and an RBI.  Altwine collected a home run, walk, and two RBIs.  Barry had an RBI and two walks.  Watt recorded a single and two RBIs.  Perry tallied two singles, and two runs scored.  Raney registered a hit, stolen base, and two run scored.

Papineua led the Vikings with a home run, two singles, and three RBIs for VCSU.  Chabot added two doubles and an RBI.  Babiuk and Wielgosh each added two hits.  Goya had a hit and two RBIs.

Sam Tyrpa started the game for Dakota State, tossing 5 1/3 innings.  He allowed seven runs (three unearned) on eight hits.  He registered seven strikeouts.  Braylon Bear (W, 2-2) earned the victory after tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings.  He yielded five hits and recorded five strikeouts.

Connor Martin pitched the first 4 1/3 innings on the pitching mound for Valley City State.  He gave up five runs on seven hits and recorded nine strikeouts.  Anthony Carrasquillo (L, 3-4) took the defeat after pitching 3 1/3 innings.  He allowed five runs (two unearned) on three hits.  Eli Chabot worked the final out in the bottom eighth inning, giving up an unearned run on one hit.