February 6, 2026

STERLINGTON, La. – Dakota State (S.D.) opened the 2026 baseball season with a hard-fought 5–4 win over Louisiana Christian on Friday morning, using timely extra-base hitting and a strong bullpen effort to hold off a late Wildcats rally.  This is the second straight year that the Trojans open the season in the Cajun Collison, featuring premier NAIA baseball teams at Sterlington Sports Complex. 

The Trojans produced their first win in the Cajun Collison tournament history and opened the season with a 1-0 overall record.  Louisiana Christian, a member of the Red River Athletic Conference and qualified for the NAIA national tournament last season, fell to 7-2 overall record this season.

How it happened
The Trojans struck first in the opening inning, despite a lead-off triple by Connor Raney, when Cameron DeMaria delivered an RBI double to score courtesy runner Quintin Tietz (for catcher Camaron Haller who reached safely on a fielder's choice), giving DSU a 1–0 lead.

Louisiana Christian answered in the third with three runs, highlighted by an RBI double from Brett Trull and a two-run single by Mason Cody, briefly pushing the Wildcats ahead 3–1.

Dakota State responded immediately in the bottom half of the third frame.  DeMaria again drove in a run with a single to score Raney who hit a lead-off single, and the Trojans capitalized on defensive miscues to plate two unearned runs, reclaiming a 4–3 advantage.

DSU added an insurance run in the fourth on DeMaria's second RBI double of the game, extending the lead to 5–3.

Louisiana Christian made things interesting in the seventh with bases loaded, scoring once on a ground out by Isaac Erbe, but Austin Armstrong shut the door to earn the save and preserve the season-opening victory.  The Wildcats left runners on second and third base when the game ended.

DeMaria anchored the Trojan offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two doubles, while Raney added a triple and a single.  Aidan Perry had a double, two walks, and two runs scored. Dakota State finished with eight hits, including five extra bases.

On the mound, Alex Ferrin (W 1-0) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Armstrong worked the final two outs for his first save of the year.  Hayden Leighty started the game for the Trojans, working for three innings and gave up three runs on five hits.  Leighty added four strikeouts. 

Cody finished the game with two hits and two RBIs for Louisiana Christian.  Braden McLin added two hits.  Trull recorded a double and an RBI.

Jacob Bareswill (L, 1-1) took the defeat on the pitching mound for LCU, working for 3 1/3 innings and allowing five runs (two unearned) on six hits.  He had five strikeouts.  Alan Mason pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, limiting the Trojans to two hits.
  Team Statistics

Louisiana Christian (7–2)

• Runs: 4
• Hits: 8
• Errors: 2
• Left on Base: 12

Dakota State (1–0)

• Runs: 5
• Hits: 8
• Errors: 1
• Left on Base: 8

Dakota State Batting

• Cameron DeMaria: 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 2B
• Connor Raney: 2-for-4, R, 3B
• Aidan Perry: 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB, 2B
• Cameron Haller: 1-for-4, R

Totals: 28 AB, 5 R, 8 H, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 8 SO Louisiana Christian Batting

• Mason Cody: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
• Brett Trull: 1-for-3, RBI, 2B
• Brett McLin: 2-for-5, R

Totals: 30 AB, 4 R, 8 H, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 9 SO Pitching Summary

Dakota State

• Hunter Leighty: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
• Alex Ferrin (W, 1–0): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
• Cody Grimmel: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
• Austin Armstrong (Sv, 1): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R

Louisiana Christian

• Jace Bareswill (L, 1–1): 3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
• Aiden Mason: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Up Next

Dakota State continues their action in the Cajun Collision Friday afternoon, facing the second opponent from the Red River Athletic Conference.  The Trojans take on LSU-Alexandria at 2:30 p.m. at Sterlington Sports Complex.