February 27, 2026

STERLING, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) baseball battled through two games Friday afternoon but came up short in both ends of a road doubleheader against Sterling (Kan.), falling 10-8 in Game 1 and 6-0 in Game 2 at Sterling Baseball Complex.

The Trojans showed offensive firepower in the opener with 13 hits and a late rally, but Sterling answered at key moments. In the nightcap, Dakota State was limited to just three hits as Sterling's pitching staff combined for a shutout.

Dakota State is 4-8 overall record.  Sterling, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, improved to 7-11 overall record.
  Game 1 – Sterling (Kan.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 8 – FINAL

Sterling jumped out early, scoring three runs in the opening inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas and a wild pitch that made it 3-1 after Dakota State scored first on George Hogan's RBI single.

Dakota State answered immediately in the second inning. RBI hits from Connor Raney, Aidan Perry, and Camaron Haller produced a three-run frame and gave the Trojans a 4-3 lead.

Sterling reclaimed momentum with runs in the second and third innings before a decisive four-run fourth inning, aided by a hit batter and a three-RBI double by Joshua Garcia, extending the lead to 9-4.

The Trojans refused to go away. Dakota State erupted for four runs in the sixth inning as Haller, Cameron DeMaria and Hogan delivered RBI hits to trim the deficit to 9-8.

Sterling added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Imanol Ramos and closed out the victory in the seventh.

Game 1 Top Performers

Dakota State

• Aidan Perry: 3-for-5, 3 runs, RBI
• Connor Raney: 2-for-3, 2 runs, double, RBI
• Camaron Haller: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
• George Hogan: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
• Trojans finished with 13 hits.

Sterling

• Joshua Garcia: 3-for-4, 4 RBI
• Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas: 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI
• Sterling scored 10 runs on eight hits while capitalizing on walks and hit batters.

Game 1 Pitching

• Hayden Leighty started for DSU (2.0 IP, 4 ER).
• Braylon Bear (L, 0-3) took the loss after allowing five runs (two earned).
• Max Woll tossed two innings in relief.

Sterling's Jace Phillips (W, 2-0) earned the win after working for 4 1/3 innings and allowing four runs (one unearned) on seven hits. Eric Villa (S, 1) collected the save, working the final two innings with two runs allowed on six hits.
  Game 2 – Sterling (Kan.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 - FINAL

Sterling carried momentum into the second game and struck early with three first inning runs, using RBI hits from Jackson Harding and Nehemiah House plus a groundout RBI to build a quick lead.

Dakota State struggled to find offensive rhythm, managing just three hits — two by Hogan and one by Chris Vinson — while Sterling pitchers Aaron Elsasser and Landon Snyder (W, 3-1) combined to shut out the Trojans.

Sterling added two more runs in the third inning on Garcia's RBI double and sacrifice fly by Ramos, then plated an insurance run in the fifth to close out the scoring.

Game 2 Top Performers

Dakota State

• George Hogan: 2-for-3, double
• Chris Vinson: 1-for-2

Sterling

• Joshua Garcia: 2-for-3, RBI
• Imanol Ramos: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
• Sterling totaled seven hits and six runs.

Game 2 Pitching

• Treyten Kolar (L, 1-3): 2.2 IP, 5 runs
• Kellan Johns: 2.1 IP, 1 run relief
• Collin Grimmel: scoreless inning in relief

Sterling's Landon Snyder earned the win with four scoreless innings of relief. Up Next

Dakota State closes out their three-game series Saturday in a nine-inning game with Sterling.  First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Sterling Baseball Complex.