August 26, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University Baseball program is proud to announce the signing of twenty-six (26) new student-athletes to the 2025-26 Trojan signing class. This group represents a strong blend of talent, academic excellence, and high character—qualities that align with the foundation and vision of Trojan Baseball.

Head Coach Derrion Hardie and his staff have strategically built a class that addresses key needs both on and off the field. With thirty-five (35) players graduating the past two years (Coach Hardie's first two recruiting classes as DSU's head coach), which included seventeen (17) graduates this past spring.  All seventeen graduates were major contributors, so this larger recruiting class will play a vital role in the continued growth and long-term success of the program.

"This is a significant class for us," said Hardie. "We have brought in guys who are not only talented athletes but also exceptional students and individuals. We are excited about the potential and depth this group brings to the future of Trojan Baseball."

The 2025-26 class features a strong core of promising young arms, a group of high-upside position players, and what could be the most talented freshmen class since Hardie took the helm at DSU five years ago. Combined with a solid group of young returning pitchers and position players, the future of Trojan Baseball looks bright.

By the end of the 2025 season, the Trojans established an average of 32 wins a season since 2021. Other highlights include a regional ranking, four players signing professional contracts, a National Pitcher-of-the-Week, the Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year, breaking seven DSU records, recognition as a National Scholar Team, and 825 community service hours worked.

2025 Signing Class:

Logan Edwards – LHP – Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 6'3', 210 lbs.
Edwards is a left-handed pitcher out of Sioux Falls and attended Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School. He collected a 5-3 record in eight starts with a 3.86 earned run average and .172 opponent batting average in 32.2 innings pitched during the 2024 summer season for the Sanford Sports Academy out of Sioux Falls. Edwards also recorded a 1.46 earned-run average and 22 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched for the Midwest Evolution during the 2024 fall season. He maintained a GPA of 3.5 and plans to pursue a degree in finance during his time at Dakota State.

Coach Rutan on Logan: "I am excited to add Logan to our program here at DSU. Logan is someone that we had been following for a year while we were recruiting his former high school teammate, and current Trojan, Jaxon DeHaan. In that time, we watched him make significant jumps in his development and frame, which have been exciting to see. Adding depth to our left-handed pitching on the pitching staff has been a priority for us and we feel we are bringing in one of the best left-handed arms in the region in Logan. With his frame and projection, I believe Logan has just begun to scratch the surface on how talented he can become and the potential of a career he can have at the collegiate level. I look forward to watching Logan continue his development and see how he is going to impact our program in a positive manner during his time at Dakota State."
 
Brody Thompson – C/RHP – Rapid City Stevens High School – Rapid City, S.D. – 6'0", 190 lbs.
Thompson is a catcher and right-handed pitcher from Rapid City and attended Rapid City Stevens High School. Across the 2024 high school and summer ball seasons, He recorded a .396 on-base percentage and .384 slugging percentage. He tallied nine doubles, three triples and three home runs in 146 at-bats. Additionally, he also stole 25 bases in 26 attempts. Defensively, Thompson caught a total of 248.2 innings and threw out 22 runners with seven runners picked off. Carrying a GPA of 3.82, Thompson plans to pursue a degree in exercise science during his tenure at Dakota State.

Coach Rutan on Brody: "I am thrilled to welcome Brody to our program. The first time I was able to see Brody compete was at a PBR Showcase in the summer of 2024 and felt he had one of the best performances of all the attendees. Between his speed, arm strength and both defensive and offensive capabilities, I knew Brody would be a perfect addition for us. Once he attended our camp a couple of months later, it was clear to our coaching staff that Brody fits the vision we have for the catcher position here at DSU. He also possesses quality traits on the mound which opens the opportunity for him to impact us as a pitcher as well. Brody, highly sought after by other in-state programs in the recruiting process, made it clear his desire to become a Trojan and help us continue to elevate the program. I am excited to watch Brody compete right away and I look forward to seeing the impact he is going to make on our program during his time at Dakota State."
 
Quintin Tietz – OF/RHP – Windom Area High School – Windom, Minn. – 6'1", 175 lbs.
Tietz is an outfielder and right-handed pitcher from Windom and attended Windom Area High School.  His head coach was Alex Fink, who previously was the head coach of the Harrisburg High School and Legion baseball teams in South Dakota. During his junior and senior years of high school baseball, Tietz batted .394 with 14 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, and 49 stolen bases. On the mound, he had 67 strikeouts and .205 batting average against 46.3 innings pitched. He capped off his junior year as a 1^st Team Big South All-Conference selection.  He elevated his accolades his senior year selected to the Class AA All-State Team and was the South MVP of the Minnesota All-Star Series. Tietz was also an Academic All-State recipient.  He carries a 3.7 GPA and plans to study Business Administration.
 
Coach Hardie on Quintin: "We first learned about Quintin from DSU baseball alum, Trey Randel, who is a teacher and coach for the Windom Area School District. Trey highly recommended Quintin and what we learned moving forward did not disappoint. In my five-years as the head coach at DSU, we have only signed one two-way player because we believe it takes a special kind of player to play a position and pitch at an elevated level in college. Quintin is now the second two-way player we have signed, which is an indicator of his ability. Offensively, his speed is a different level and his bat has juice. On the mound, he is raw with high upside due to his plus ability to spin the ball and potential for quality pitch ability and velocity gains. We are excited to have Quintin. He is a great fit and we look forward to watching him develop as a Trojan."
 
Keaton Gale – INF - Elk Point/Jefferson High School - Elk Point, S.D. - 5'10", 175 lbs.
Gale is another South Dakota kid joining the Trojans in the fall of 2025. He comes to us from Elk Point where he has been a standout athlete on both the baseball field as well as the football field for the last three years. As a junior, Gale posted a batting average of .562 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 homerun while driving in 13 during the high school season. Gale capped off his legion season with a Class 'B' State Championship, and awarded both the Big Stick award, given to the tournament's best hitter, as well as tournament Most Valuable Player. He followed up a successful junior campaign with a near .400 batting average in both his legion and high school seasons.

Coach Evers on Keaton: "Keaton was someone who we have been keeping an eye on for a long time in the recruiting process. We have known for a while that we wanted Keaton to be a part of our program, so we were excited he told us he wanted to come on board. He has a ton of potential both as on the field and as a leader and we cannot wait to see that come into fruition here at DSU." 
 
Talan Jurgens – RHP – Watertown High School – Watertown, S.D. – 6'1", 185 lbs.
Jurgens is a right-handed pitcher out of Watertown and Watertown High School. During the 2024 legion ball season for Watertown Post 17, coached by Ryan Neale, Jurgens earned 2^nd Team Class A All-State honors by compiling a 10-3 record with an 1.75 earned run average and 70 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. He helped lead Post 17 to a 46-25 record which led to a third-place finish in the 2024 state legion tournament. Jurgens collected Honorable Mention All-State honors after the 2025 legion season. A two-sport athlete in both baseball and football, Jurgens has a 3.97 GPA and plans to pursue a degree in computer science.
 
Coach Rutan on Talan: "I am thrilled to add Talan to our program. He is a guy that continued to impress our coaching staff every time we went to watch him pitch against the premier talent in the state of South Dakota throughout the 2024 legion season. Talan knows his strengths as a pitcher and possesses authentic competitive capabilities on the mound. He fills up the zone, does not walk hitters, and consistently attacks with his best stuff which are qualities we highly value on our pitching staff. Plus, Dakota State is perfect academically for Talan's career aspirations, further making him a great fit in our program. Talan has the makeup to have a successful collegiate career, and I look forward to watching him develop during his time at Dakota State."
 
Gavin Goldal – RHP – Elkhorn High School – Elkhorn, Neb. – 5'11", 150 lbs.
Goldal is a right-handed pitcher from Elkhorn and attended Elkhorn High School. He comes to Dakota State from the OrthoNebraska Antlers Post 211 legion program, coached by Kyle McCright, which captured the 2024 state legion championship. During that season, Goldal recorded a 3-2 record with a 3.36 earned-run average and 26 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings pitched. Goldal plans to pursue a degree in business at Dakota State University.
 
Coach Rutan on Gavin: "I am excited to have Gavin as a Trojan. Coach McCright made it clear when recommending Gavin that he is a student of the game and a competitor to his core, which is what attracted us to him in the first place. Once we were able to see Gavin pitch and get him to our camp in the summer of 2024, we knew he was the right fit for our pitching staff for a variety of reasons. Gavin possesses the ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes and can spin all his pitches at a plus level right now. He also comes from a premier high school and legion program in Nebraska and will bring the experience of winning at a prominent level along with him. As Gavin continues to grow and build strength, I believe his velocity will increase as well to further make him a solid piece on our pitching staff. I look forward to working with Gavin during his time at Dakota State."
 
Mason Brooks – INF - Rapid City Stevens High School - Rapid City, S.D. - 6'0", 180 lbs.
Brooks is making the trip to the eastern side of the state for his college career after growing up in western South Dakota. He played his high school baseball for Rapid City Stevens, and he was a member of both the Box Elder Legion team as well as the Rapid City Sliders traveling team during the summers. During the high school season, Brooks posted a .433 batting average and hit five doubles for Stevens, who was one of the top three teams in the state in 2024. This was good enough to earn Brooks a 2nd Team All-State recognition by the South Dakota High School Baseball Association. He followed up a successful junior year with another 2^nd Team All-State performance in his senior year as a first baseman and pitcher. He will be joining teammates Ian Beer and Brody Thompson in Madison.
 
Coach Evers on Mason: "Mason made things truly clear throughout the recruiting process that DSU was where he wanted to be. He is a talented athlete who has potential for growth here at DSU and we are excited to see his development begin when he joins us in the fall of 2025."
 
Ian Beer – RHP – Rapid City Stevens High School – Rapid City, SD – 5'9 140
Beer is a right-handed pitcher out of Rapid City and attended Rapid City Stevens High School. He comes to Dakota State from the Rapid City Sliders club organization where he compiled a 2-2 record and recorded a 3.55 earned run average with 20 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched during the 2024 summer season. Beer also collected 1^st Team All-State honors for Rapid City Stevens for the 2025 spring season where he recorded 64 strikeouts with just 14 walks in 38.2 innings pitched. Carrying a GPA of 3.7, Beer plans to pursue a degree in exercise science during his tenure at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Ian: "I am pleased to welcome Ian to our program here at DSU. Like Brody Thompson, I first saw Ian at the same PBR Showcase in the summer of 2024 and was impressed by his ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes with plus spin rates. Ian attended our prospect camp a couple of months later and solidified the fact that he is a well-rounded pitcher and can make an impact in our program. Our coaching staff walked away from that camp knowing that we wanted Ian to become a Trojan. Ian has a high ceiling and is someone that I am excited to watch grow and develop with the proper strength and player development program throughout his career here. I look forward to working with Ian during his time as a student-athlete at Dakota State."
 
Tyson Getting – INF - Sheldon High School - Sheldon, Iowa - 6'3", 190 lbs.
Our first out-of-state infielder signee of the 2025 recruiting class, Getting comes to the Trojans from Sheldon.  Getting has experience under his belt in both his legion and high school baseball careers in Sheldon and has shown consistent growth throughout the years. He is a 4-sport athlete who has also left an impact on the baseball, basketball, football, and track teams at Sheldon High School. His junior year, Getting posted just below a .300 average at the plate and held down the left side of the infield for Sheldon. He capped off his high school career in 2025 as an All-Conference player for Sheldon.  His talent, competitiveness, and leadership qualities are going to be a benefit to the Trojan baseball team. 
 
Coach Evers on Tyson: "Throughout the recruiting process Tyson was extremely interested in our program and that is always something we look for in our guys. He is a 4-sport athlete whose athleticism consistently shows up on the baseball field. We could not be more excited to have him join us, and I think he will create a distinguished career for himself here at DSU."
 
Ben Hansen – INF - Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School - Galesville, Wis. - 6'2', 225 lbs.
Another infield addition hailing from out-of-state is Hansen from Galesville, Wis. He comes to the Trojans as a multi-sport athlete who was also quarterback of his high school football team to go along with his baseball career. During his junior season, Hansen hit .394 and had an OPS of 1.148. He followed up a successful junior year with an even better senior year where he hit .424 and had an OPS of 1.314. With family from the area, Hansen is familiar with what South Dakota has to offer, and he is going to be a great fit for both the Trojan baseball team and Dakota State University.
 
Coach Evers on Ben: "Ben is another guy that expressed early on that DSU was a place where he wanted to be. He came to our camp in August and impressed the coaching staff with his physicality and his ability to hit the ball with authority. I am fired up to have him as a Trojan and I cannot wait to see what he can accomplish over the next four years."
 
Brogan Barr – OF – McCook Community College (Neb.) – Eaton, Colo. – 6'2", 185 lbs.
Barr is a left-handed swinging outfielder from Eaton and will be transferring to Dakota State from McCook Community College (Neb.).  He will pursue a degree in Business Administration at Dakota State.
 
Coach Hardie on Brogan: "McCook's outfield was loaded with talent the last two season, so although Brogan's playing time was limited, it did not mean he lacked talent. On the contrary, his strengths are defensive range in the outfield, ability to steal bases, and the progress made with his swing--he is starting to develop power. He performed well this summer, playing in the Front Range League with nearly a .500 on base percentage, producing more walks than strike outs, and double digit stolen bases.  I am looking forward to seeing what Brogan brings to the table."    
 
Ethan Ferguson – C - Omaha Central High School – Omaha, Neb. – 5'10', 175 lbs.
Ferguson is a catcher out of Omaha and comes to DSU after attending Omaha Central High School. During the 2025 spring season, he hit .364 with a .468 slugging percentage including eight doubles. He also was perfect on the bases by stealing 10 bases in 10 attempts as well for the Eagles. Carrying a GPA of 3.6, Ethan plans to pursue a degree in computer science during his time at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Ethan: "I am happy to welcome Ethan and his family to our program here at Dakota State. During our initial conversations, Ethan made it clear his high interest in our program and desire to be a Trojan. That is something that stood out to us right away when evaluating him during the recruiting process. He has a strong work ethic, eagerness to learn, and be coached, which will help him tremendously in his development during his time in our program. Plus, Dakota State is the perfect fit for him academically as he pursues a degree in computer science. I look forward to seeing Ethan join the talented catchers' group we have here and the strides he is going to make along with pushing the other guys to be at their best when collaborating with them."
 
Tommy Peterson – RHP – Sioux Falls Washington High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 6'0", 190 lbs.
Peterson is a right-handed pitcher out of Sioux Falls and comes to DSU after attending Sioux Falls Washington High School. Across both the 2024 high school and legion seasons, Peterson recorded 37 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched. Carrying a perfect 4.0 GPA in his high school career, Tommy plans to pursue a degree in exercise science during his time at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Tommy: "Tommy made it clear early in the recruiting process that he wanted to become a Trojan, which is a trait we highly value as a coaching staff. That along with his prior history with members of our coaching staff makes DSU a great fit for him and his family. We have seen Tommy make tremendous strides in his athletic development since we first saw him throw during the 2024 legion season and at our prospect camp later that August which has us excited for his future here. He is highly committed to his craft and places a high emphasis on his athletic routine and his academics, which again makes him a great fit for our program. I am excited to join with Tommy as he continues to develop during his time as a student-athlete here at Dakota State."
 
Nash Berg – INF - Watertown High School – Watertown, S.D. – 6'3", 235 lbs.
Originally committed to playing football at Dakota State, Berg felt as if baseball was where he belonged and decided to make the switch to the baseball team. Over the past couple of seasons, he has been a key cog in the Watertown Post 17 lineup that boasted several college baseball players. He is an imposing left-handed hitter who could develop into a force offensively. He will be joining teammate Talan Jurgens on the Dakota State Trojan baseball team.
 
Coach Evers on Nash: "We are excited that Nash decided to transition over from football to baseball. He comes from one of the best legion programs in the state and he has locked down the right side of the infield for them over the last couple of years. He is an imposing figure that should develop very well in our system."
 
Max Woll – RHP – College of Lake County (Ill.) – Grayslake, Ill. – 5'10", 165 lbs.
Woll is a right-handed pitcher out of Grayslake and comes to DSU after spending the last two years at College of Lake County in Lake County, Ill.. In the 2025 season for College of Lake County, Woll recorded a 4.24 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched while striking out 18 batters and only issuing eight walks. He also spent the last two summers pitching in the Northwoods League.  During his time at Dakota State, Max plans to pursue a degree in health and physical education.
 
Coach Rutan on Max: "I am excited to have Max join our program here at Dakota State. He is another guy that we recognized during the recruiting process had a genuine desire to become a Trojan and help contribute to the culture of our program. Having served in a variety of roles at College of Lake County will not only benefit Max in his transition to DSU but will also help strengthen the depth and versatility of our pitching staff overall. Max is a mature and independent young man that has the characteristics necessary to succeed as a student-athlete in our program. I look forward to coaching Max and seeing the value he is going to bring to our program both on and off the field."
 
Cade Steffen – INF - Cedar Falls High School – Cedar Falls, Iowa – 6'2", 220 lbs.
Steffen decided to come on board in early December last year and he has the potential to do special things here at DSU. As a computer science major, DSU was a natural fit for him. On top of the academic fit, Steffen was an athletic fit for the baseball program as he finished the summer hitting .384 with 10 doubles, four home runs and a slugging percentage of 1.059.
 
Coach Evers on Cade: "Coming off a great summer, we are extremely excited to get Cade onto campus here in Madison. He is a high academic kid who also checks all the boxes on the baseball side of things. Look for him to develop and make massive strides early in his career at DSU."
 
Carter McQuery – RHP – Riverland Community College (Minn.) – Waseca, Minn. – 6'1", 190 lbs.
McQuery is a right-handed pitcher from Waseca and arrives at DSU after a two-year stint at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn. In the 2025 season for the Blue Devils, coached by Derek Hahn, McQuery finished with a 6-3 record while recording 51 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched across 11 appearances. Additionally, McQuery was selected as MCAC Southern Division Pitcher of the Week on March 24, 2025. While at Dakota State, McQuery plans to pursue a degree in exercise science.
 
Coach Rutan on Carter: "I am thrilled to welcome Carter into our program here at Dakota State. We have had success with bringing in quality student athletes from Riverland and think Carter will follow the same path. Carter comes to DSU after a successful year leading the Blue Devils to the NJCAA North Plains District Championship game, therefore he will bring experience in pitching in high level games to our pitching staff. We graduated experienced pitchers from our pitching staff, so it was crucial for us to bring in pitchers that not only have experience but proven success as well, and Carter fits that criteria. I am excited to have Carter apart of our pitching staff here at DSU and look forward to the impact he is going to make in his time here."
 
Ryland Carroll – INF/RHP - Brandon Valley High School – Brandon, S.D. – 6'0", 185 lbs.
Carroll is another newcomer that the DSU Baseball program has been high on for a while now. A three-year starter at Brandon Valley, he looks to contribute early to his career both positionally and on the mound. He capped off his senior year at Brandon Valley winning the SDHSBA Class A State Championship, named the MVP of the tournament, and a 1^st Team All-State player. Following high school baseball, Carroll led the Brandon Valley Legion team to the number 4 seed in the SD Legion State Tournament and was, once again, a 1^st Team All-State selection for the Lynx.
 
Coach Evers on Ryland: "Ryland provided the DSU Baseball coaching staff with a Christmas gift as he committed on Christmas Day 2024. He has been one of the top players in the state of South Dakota the last few years and is extremely dynamic in his ability to impact the game on the mound, in the field, and at the plate. We could not be more excited to get him on campus as a Trojan."
 
Cameron Buck – OF – Barstow College (Calif.) – San Diego, Calif. – 5'9", 180 lbs.
Buck is a right-right outfielder that will be joining the Trojans from Barstow Community College in Barstow.  This past spring, during Buck's sophomore season, he hit at a .302 clip, with eight doubles, and eight stolen bases in 116 at bats. He is transferring with a 3.76 cumulative GPA and will be majoring in cyber security at Dakota State.
 
Coach Hardie on Cameron: "We signed Cameron as an outfielder, but he is versatile and can play second and third base.  He has good tools – arm, speed, ability to hit gaps with pop, and quality pitch selection/recognition. What stood out was his energy.  Cameron has a high motor, and he proved that he wanted to be a Trojan. He will be a fun one to watch compete in our program."
 
Rihito Igarashi – C – Riverland Community College (Minn.) – Saitama, Japan – 5'8", 185 lbs.
Igarashi is a catcher from Saitama, Japan and will be transferring to Dakota State after spending the last two years at Riverland Community College in Austin. Carrying a GPA of 3.8, Igarashi plans to pursue a degree in finance during his time as a student-athlete at Dakota State.
 
Coach Rutan on Rihito: "I am happy to have Rihito apart of our program here at DSU. In our first phone call, Rihito expressed his willingness to serve in any role to help our program achieve success. He showed a true team first mentality that was genuine, and it became clear that he was someone that we wanted in our program. Having familiarity with a couple of pitchers that we are also bringing over from Riverland further makes Rihito a good fit for our program. I look forward to seeing the positive impact Rihito is going to make on our program during his time here at Dakota State."
 
Matthew Asher – INF - Moberly Area Community College – Lee's Summit, Mo. – 6'0", 180 lbs.
Asher was the first transfer to come on board for the Trojans in the infield this summer. After making the decision to transfer, Asher was looking for a program that prioritized development and opportunity, which he found here at DSU. On the field, he is versatile in the field playing multiple spots in the infield and can-do real damage at the plate.
 
Coach Evers on Matt: "Matt is someone who showed interest in DSU early in the recruiting process. He is going to bring quite a bit of offensive potential to the program, and I look forward to seeing the progress and impact that he can make during his time in Madison."
 
Austin Armstrong – RHP – University of Mary (N.D.) – Great Falls, Mont. – 6'2", 190 lbs.
Armstrong is a right-handed pitcher from Great Falls and will be coming to DSU after beginning his career at Division II University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. While at Dakota State, Armstrong plans to pursue a degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.
 
Coach Rutan on Austin: "Austin is someone that has upside and potential out in front of him. Unfortunately, he had an injury bug over the last two seasons, but there are still skills there that can play well in our program and at our level. Between his frame, and key metrics on his pitches, Austin can be a solid addition to our pitching staff for years to come. We believe in Austin and are excited to welcome him and his family to our program here at Dakota State."
 
Chris Vinson – INF - Lake Michigan College (Mich.) – Lowell, Ind. – 6'3", 185 lbs.
Vinson joins the Trojans from Lake Michigan College where he started 65 games at shortstop for the RedHawks. He provides quite a bit of experience in the field along with athleticism that will translate into success on the field. During his freshman year, Vinson hit .328 with nine doubles and three triples while stealing 18 bases. A dynamic athlete, Vinson looks to be a spark plug for the Trojans for the last two years of his career.
 
Coach Evers on Chris: "Chris is yet another guy that the DSU coaching staff is ecstatic to have on board. He is extremely dynamic and provides experience up the middle for us. He was a fantastic way to wrap up the 2025 recruiting class and his development will be something to watch closely over the next couple of years."
 
Jack Sorenson – LHP – Riverland Community College (Minn.) – Cloquet, Min.. – 6'0", 225 lbs.
Sorenson is a left-handed pitcher from Cloquet and will be joining Igarashi and McQuery in coming to DSU from Riverland Community College. This past season, Sorenson led the Blue Devils in innings pitched with 60.1 recorded across 10 appearances. In those 10 appearances, Sorenson struck out 53 batters and finished the season with a 3.28 ERA. Sorenson was selected as MCAC Southern Division Pitcher of the Week on May 13, 2025. Sorenson plans to pursue a degree in network and security administration at DSU.
 
Coach Rutan on Jack: "I am ecstatic to welcome Jack to our program here at Dakota State. The first time we were able to see Jack was in the fall of 2024 during a scrimmage against Riverland where he started against us. He kept our hitters off balanced, filled up the zone and pitched to contact the entire time. I knew right away he was a guy we wanted on our pitching staff. Jack checks boxes we were looking for in the recruiting process in terms of starting success and adding quality depth to the left-handed pitching side. We look forward to the value he will add to our pitching staff and program overall. Jack knows who he is and what makes him a quality pitcher. I am excited to partner with him and watch him continue to grow and develop."
 
Conner Eich – RHP – Minnesota West Community & Technical College (Minn.) – Lennox, S.D. – 6'3", 210 lbs.
Eich is a right-handed pitcher from Lennox and will be transferring to Dakota State after a two-year career at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington. In his two years at Minnesota West, led by head coach David Kinley, Eich recorded 86 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched across 17 appearances. He finished his career for the Blue Jays with a career 9.33 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9).  Eich intends to major in elementary education at Dakota State University.
 
Coach Rutan on Conner: "I am excited to bring Conner back home to South Dakota and into our program here at Dakota State. We had the chance to see Conner pitch against our developmental team this past spring and thought his skill set fit well within the identity of our pitching staff. He has familiarity already with our current players and coaches, which I believe makes him a great fit for our culture. He brings starting experience and over 80 college innings pitched under his belt which adds even more depth to an already quality pitching staff. Conner has a solid frame with more in the tank waiting to be unlocked and I am excited to see that occur right away in the fall. I look forward to adding Conner to our pitching staff and watch him further develop into a quality pitcher during his time in our program."
 
Ryan Harness – OF – Arizonia Christian University – Huntsville, Ala. – 5'9", 170 lbs.
Harness is a left-left outfielder and graduate transfer from Arizonia Christian University and Firestorm Baseball.  He will be working towards a master's in education and technology at Dakota State.
 
Coach Hardie on Ryan: "Ryan was a four-year member of a quality ACU baseball program. He spent the past few summers playing in the Corn Belt League down in Omaha, with one of our former athletes, Ayden Spicer. Through that relationship, Ayden told Ryan about how strong our Master's in Education and Technology program is, so he reached out to us and there was a good fit. Ryan hit .304 in 69 at-bats this past summer in the Corn Belt League. We are looking forward to having his experience in our program."