April 6, 2025

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) limited Valley City State (N.D.) to two runs in each game Sunday afternoon at Sanford Sports Complex, completing their North Star Athletic Association baseball four-game series sweep by the scores of 6-2 and 7-2.  The Trojans earned their first conference four-game series sweep of the season, collecting their 12^th victory in the last 13 meetings with the Vikings.

Dakota State had won four straight games, lifting their overall record to 18-15 and 5-3 NSAA conference record.  Valley City State dropped their eighth straight game, falling to 15-22 and 0-8 record in the league.

The Trojans play their first NSAA baseball four-game series next weekend, traveling to Dickinson State (N.D.).  The doubleheader starts Friday at 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time), followed by another doubleheader next Saturday at 1 p.m. (Central Time)/12 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.

Game 1 – Dakota State (S.D.) 7, Valley City State (N.D.) 2 – FINAL

Dakota State halted Valley City State to score first in the top third inning in the third game of the four-game series.  After recording the first two outs, the Vikings set up a bases loaded situation after Porter Jorgenson's walk, Jamel Chabot's single and Kaden Rozdeba's single.  The Trojans' defense ended the top third inning with a ground out to first base.

DSU earned the first lead of the game 2-0 in the bottom fourth frame, thanks to George Hogan's 2-run home run and scored Darcy Barry who led off with a walk.

VCSU was unable to convert their scoring opportunities in the top fifth inning, leaving the bases full (Diesel Goya with hit-by-pitch, Jorgenson with a walk, and Chabot with hit-by-pitch).

Dakota State produced three straight extra bases hits in the bottom half of the fifth inning.  Aidan Perry led off with a double.  Cassidy Watt blasted a 2-run home run to score Perry, ballooning the Trojans' lead to 4-0.  Cameron DeMaria followed up with a double and was unable to score.

Hogan reached safely on first base by VCSU's defensive error to start the bottom sixth.  He advanced to second base after Seth Altwine's sacrifice bunt.  Connor Raney hit a single to advance Hogan to third base.  Raney advanced to second base after Vikings' throw on the same play.

Perry produced a 2-RBI single to score Hogan and Raney as Dakota State's lead grew to 6-2.

Valley City State snapped their scoring drought in the top seventh.  Jorgenson hit a single with one out, followed by Chabot's walk to advance Jorgenson to second base.  Rozdeba drilled a 2-RBI double to score Jorgenson and Justin Rogers as the Vikings trimmed their deficit to 6-2.

VCSU left a runner on second base when the game ended, securing the victory for DSU.

The Trojans tallied nine hits in the game compared to the Vikings seven hits.  Valley City State left nine runners on base, while Dakota State had seven runners left on base.

Watt was 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, two singles and drove in two runs for DSU.  Perry added a double, single, walk, and collected two RBIs.  Raney had two singles.  Hogan had a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored.  DeMaria recorded a double.  Barry had a walk and a run scored. 

Rozdeba was 2-for-4 with a double, single, and two RBIs for VCSU.  Jaden Babiuk added three singles.  Jorgenson had a single and two walks.  Chabot recorded a hit and a walk.

Hunter Vikemyr (W, 5-3) earned the victory after tossing five-plus innings for Dakota State.  He limited the Vikings to five hits and recorded six strikeouts.  Aiden Urbom pitched two innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits.  He registered two strikeouts.

Takao Cookson (L, 1-2) took the setback for Valley City State.  He pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (two unearned) on nine hits.  He had five strikeouts.  Jacob Marx pitched the final out of the bottom sixth in relief.

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

Dakota State never trailed in both games on Sunday, jumping to a 3-0 early lead in the bottom second inning of the four-game series finale.

Barry drilled a lead-off double to start the bottom second for DSU.  Vikemyr followed up with an RBI single to score Barry for Dakota State 1-0 lead.

With bases loaded and two outs situation in the bottom second (with Hogan's single, Altwine's walk, and Dawson Portner fielder's choice with Vikemyr out at home), Perry hit a 2-RBI single to score Hogan and Altwine as the Trojans extended their lead to 3-0.

Valley City State answered with two runs in the top third inning.  Rozdeba hit a double with two outs.  Alexis Velasco blasted a 2-run home run as the Vikings trimmed the Trojans' lead to 3-2.

Dakota State produced three runs in the bottom sixth frame, sparked by Altwine's lead-off double.  After Portner's fly out to right field to advance Altwine to third base, the Trojans made it 4-2 as Raney hit an RBI single to right side to score Altwine.

Perry followed up with a double to advance Raney to third base in the bottom sixth for DSU.  Watt hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Raney to make it 5-2 in favor of the Trojans.

DeMaria hit an RBI single to score Perry as Dakota State widen their lead to 6-2 in the bottom sixth.

Vikemyr recorded a walk, followed by Hogan's single, and a walk by Altwine to set up a bases loaded situation in the bottom seventh.  DSU made it 7-2 as Perry recorded an RBI walk to score Vikemyr.

VCSU left a runner on base when the game ended, earning the victory for DSU.

The Trojans collected 10 hits in the game, while the Vikings had eight hits.  Dakota State left 13 runners on base compared to Valley City State seven runners left on base.

Perry was 2-for-2 at the plate with a double, single, three walks, and collected a game-high three RBIs for Dakota State.  Altwine added a double, two walks, and two runs scored.  Barry had a double and a walk.  Raney and Vikemyr each had a hit and RBI.  Raney, Barry, and Portner each swiped one base.

Velasco led Valley City State with a home run, two singles, and two RBIs.  Babiuk tallied two singles.  Rozdeba, Brady Papineau, and Christian Ramirez each added a hit.

Alex Swack (W, 2-0) earned the pitching win for DSU.  He worked for six innings and allowed two runs on six hits.  He recorded seven strikeouts.  Keaton Young (S, 1) earned the save after tossing three scoreless innings in relief, yielding two hits.  He had two strikeouts.

Andrew Kim (L, 1-2) took the defeat after pitching four innings for VCSU.  He gave up three runs on four hits and recorded four strikeouts.  Johan Freudenburg, Eli Chabot, and Grady Shipman each worked in relief.