Mach 21, 2026
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) exploded offensively with a pair of big innings and a dominant middle stretch to roll past Valley City State (N.D.) 16-6 in seven innings on Saturday on the first day of the Frontier Conference Jamboree. Saturday was the season opener in the inaugural Frontier Conference baseball action, where all six teams met at Sanford Sports Complex for a round-robin action.
The Trojans piled up 16 runs on 12 hits, highlighted by an eight-run second inning that flipped an early deficit into a commanding lead they never relinquished.
Dakota State improved their overall record to 9-14 and 2-0 record in the league. Valley City State is 14-9 overall record and 1-1 Frontier Conference record.
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How it happened
Valley City State struck first in the second inning on a two-run home run by Evan Gonzalez to take a 2-0 lead.
Dakota State responded emphatically in the bottom half with one of its most explosive innings of the season. The Trojans scored eight runs on eight hits, sparked by RBI doubles from
Cameron Kittridge and
Aiden Barfuss, followed by a two-run double from
Connor Raney. Aidan Perry, Cameron DeMaria, and
George Hogan each added RBI hits as Dakota State surged ahead 8-2.
The Trojans continued to build momentum in the third inning, plating three more runs on a groundout, hit-by-pitch, and sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 11-2.
Valley City State chipped away with a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth to close the gap to 12-6, but Dakota State quickly put the game out of reach.
In the sixth inning,
Chris Vinson delivered an RBI double before
Cameron DeMaria capped the scoring with a three-run home run, sealing the 16-6 victory.
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Individual Leaders
Dakota State
- Cameron DeMaria: 3-for-4, home run, 5 RBIs, 3 runs
- Connor Raney: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 3 runs, double
- Aidan Perry: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs
- George Hogan: 1-for-4, 3 RBIs, double
- Aiden Barfuss: 2-for-4, triple, double, RBI, 2 runs
- Hunter Den Boer: 1-for-2, RBI, 3 runs
Valley City State
- Evan Gonzalez: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs
- Cody Wielgosh: 1-for-4, RBI
- Kaden Rozdeba: 1-for-3, double, RBI
- Nick Senn: 2-for-2, double
Pitching Summary
Dakota State
Valley City State
- Takao Cookson (L, 4-2): 1.2 IP, 8 R (2 ER)
- Staff combined: 12 H, 16 R allowed
Team Statistics
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| Category |
Dakota State |
Valley City State |
| Runs |
16 |
6 |
| Hits |
12 |
7 |
| Errors |
1 |
2 |
| Walks |
6 |
5 |
| Extra-Base Hits |
6 |
2 |
| Home Runs |
1 |
1 |
Up Next
Dakota State continues their action on the second day of the Frontier Conference Jamboree. Due to cold temperatures in the forecast Sunday morning, the starting game times for first game will start at 12:15 p.m., with all games being played as seven-inning games instead of nine-inning games.
DSU faces Dickinson State (N.D.) in the first game at 12:15 p.m. and close the day with a contest with Mayville State (N.D.) at approximately 4:30 p.m.
