February 14, 2026

FAYETTE, Mo. – Madonna (Mich.) earned the baseball doubleheader sweep over Dakota State (S.D.) on the second day for the Eagle Invitational at Estes Field, hosted by Central Methodist (Mo.).  The Crusaders held on toe defeat the Trojans 7-5 in the first game and outscored DSU 17-3 after the second inning of the second game to gain a 17-6 victory.

Dakota State is 3-5 overall record.  Madonna, a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, improved to 4-2 overall record.
  GAME 1: Madonna (Mich.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 5

Madonna used a three-run third inning and three-run fourth inning to hold off a late Dakota State's late rally in a 7-5 decision in the doubleheader opener.

Dakota State struck first in the top of the first inning when Cameron DeMaria singled to right field, scoring Connor Raney, who led off the game with a single, for a 1-0 lead.

Madonna answered in the second on an RBI walk and then broke the game open in the third as Brett Reed launched a two-run homer to center field. The Crusaders added another RBI single in the frame to make it 4-1 after three innings.

Madonna extended the margin to 7-2 in the fourth frame behind a two-RBI single from Aamir Mitchell and an RBI single from Reed.

The Trojans mounted their comeback in the fifth. Raney drew a walk and Aidan Perry singled before Camaron Haller crushed a three-run home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 7-5.

Dakota State brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth but stranded three runners. Madonna reliever David Zilch (S, 2) struck out five over two scoreless innings to earn the save.

Dakota State Leaders

• Camaron Haller: 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
• George Hogan: 2-for-4
• Connor Raney: 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 walks, SB
• Cameron DeMaria: 1-for-3, RBI

Madonna Leaders

• Brett Reed: 2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs
• Aamir Mitchell: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs
• Donovan Thompson: 2-for-2, RBI

Pitching

Dakota State

• Ryland Carroll (L, 1-1): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 5 BB, 3 SO
• Caleb Hoppe: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER
• Max Woll: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R

Madonna

• Trey Acker (W, 2-0): 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 SO
• Jason Jurczyk: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB
• David Zilch (S, 2): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 SO

GAME 2: Madonna (Mich.) 17, Dakota State (S.D.) 6

Madonna erupted for 17 runs on 12 hits in the second game to complete the sweep of the twin bill over Dakota State.

Dakota State took an early 3-0 lead. DeMaria delivered an RBI single in the first, and Chris Vinson belted a two-run homer in the second to give the Trojans early momentum.

Madonna responded in the third with a three-run homer by Mitchell to tie the game 3-3. The Crusaders then capitalized on defensive miscues in the fourth, scoring four runs — including two unearned — to take a 7-3 lead.

The decisive blow came in the fifth when Madonna plated six runs. Kooper Etheridge tripled home three runs, Kevin Davis doubled in a run, and Mitchell added his second homer of the game, a two-run shot, pushing the margin to 13-3.

Dakota State answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth as DeMaria drove in one and Brayden Byrum doubled home two, but Madonna added four more runs over the final two innings to secure the 17-6 victory.

Dakota State Leaders

• Cameron DeMaria: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
• Brayden Byrum: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
• Connor Raney: 2-for-3, 2 runs
• Chris Vinson: HR, 2 RBI

Madonna Leaders

• Aamir Mitchell: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI
• Kooper Etheridge: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 3B
• Chase Gabel: HR, 2 RBI
• Kevin Davis: 2B, RBI

Pitching

Dakota State

• Braylon Bear (L, 0-2): 3.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R (5 ER)
• Trojans staff allowed 12 hits and 5 walks

Madonna

• Alex Duley (W, 1-1): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 8 SO

Up Next

Dakota State is scheduled to host Midland (Neb.) in a four-game series at Flynn Field Friday and next Saturday.  Stay tuned to dsuathletics.com for schedule updates.