May 4, 2025

DICKINSON, N.D. – Sixth-seeded La Sierra (Calif.) of the Cal Pac Conference capitalized on timely hitting and strong pitching to edge fifth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) 4-3 in an elimination game Sunday afternoon in the elimination game of the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.

With the win, the Golden Eagles advance to face No. 3 seed and host team Dickinson State in the final elimination game at 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time). The winner of that contest will earn a berth in the NSAA Championship against Bellevue (Neb.) either Sunday evening or Monday.  Not only they earn a spot to the conference championship game, they also would receive the second league automatic bid to the NAIA Baseball National Tournament Opening Round on May 12-15.

La Sierra (22-19 overall record) overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a run in the third, two in the fifth, and another insurance run in the seventh, then held off a late rally from Dakota State (26-24 overall record) in the ninth.

The Trojans struck first in the third inning. Dawson Portner led off with a walk and later scored on a groundout by Hunter Vikemyr. After a hit-by-pitch to Aidan Perry and a wild pitch, Cassidy Watt delivered a two-out RBI double to the right-field line to bring home Perry for a 2-0 DSU lead.

The Golden Eagles responded in the bottom half of the frame. Jose Leon drew a walk and moved to third on a single by Bobby Benavidez. Dean Samuel then reached on an error, allowing Leon to score and cutting the deficit to 2-1.

La Sierra took the lead in the fifth inning. Benavidez ripped a one-out double.  After Samuel was hit by a pitch, Ethan Gibbs followed with a two-out double to left center and drove in both runners to make it 3-2.

La Sierra added what proved to be the winning run in the seventh. Benavidez opened the inning with his third hit of the game and moved to third on a sacrifice by Samuel. After Dakota State brought in Sam Tyrpa from the bullpen, Adam Amaro reached on a fielding error by the right fielder, allowing Benavidez to score.

Dakota State threatened in the ninth when Ben Loos singled and Portner followed with another base hit. With two outs, Perry singled to left to plate Loos and bring the Trojans within a run. However, Vikemyr's fielder's choice ended the game (with force out at second base) and sealed the win for the Golden Eagles.

Benavidez led all players with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring twice. Gibbs finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Amaro and Samuel each drove in a run.

Loos paced the Trojans with a 3-for-4 performance. Perry reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Watt added a double and RBI.

On the mound, Justin Hurst (W, 4-1) earned the win for La Sierra, going five innings and allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Jayden Jones (S, 1) pitched four innings in relief, giving up one run on four hits to collect the save.

Nicholai Arbach (L, 6-6) started for Dakota State and threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Tyrpa tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three and giving up just one hit.

Arbach finished his career as the second most career strikeouts with 257, while Tyrpa extended his school all-time school record of 262 strikeouts.

La Sierra committed no errors in the contest, while the Trojans were charged with two. The Golden Eagles stranded eight runners on base compared to nine by the Trojans.

Saturday's victory allows La Sierra to stay alive in the double-elimination format, setting up a rematch with host Dickinson State, who defeated the Golden Eagles in the opening round of the tournament. The winner of the evening game will move on to Sunday evening's or Monday's NSAA Championship game against top-seeded Bellevue.

Dakota State clinched their fourth consecutive winning season with an overall record of 26-24.  It marked the final collegiate baseball game for 14 seniors - Seth Altwine, Michael Buchmann, Loos, Watt, Dylan Gillespie, Vikemyr, Cory Brownson, Curtis Flint, Darcy Barry, Aiden Urbom, Portner, Tyrpa, Arbach, and Alex Swack.

Highlights of DSU single season school records include:

• Darcy Barry – 50 runs – 4^th; 24 stolen bases – tied 3^rd; 12 home runs – tied 6^th
• Cassidy Watt – 113 total bases – 4^th; 50 RBIs - 6^th; 14 home runs – tied 2^nd (tied 6^th all-time with 17 home runs)
• Aidan Perry – tied school record with 35 walks drawn (Josh Wells – 2005)
• Nicholai Arbach – school record 9 complete games, previously held by Dustin Ottens (2006) and Asa Patterson (2004) with 8 complete games each; tied school record with three shutouts (Will Clair – 2024); 88 strikeouts – 4^th
• Arbach and Tyrpa – tied second most starts with 13 starts
• Hunter Vikemyr – tied 10^th with one shutout; 7 pitching wins – tied 8^th
• Cameron DeMaria – 14 home runs – tied 2^nd (tied 6^th all-time with 17 home runs)
• Team record – 73 home runs