March 29, 2026

BISMARCK, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) dropped both Frontier Conference baseball games Sunday to Bismarck State on Sunday, falling 5-4 in extra innings and closing the four-game series finale with a 10-8 setback.  The Mystics completed a 3-2 Frontier Conference season record with the Trojans.

Dakota State fell to 11-18 overall record, while Bismarck State improved to 16-12.  Both teams are 4-4 record in the Frontier Conference, tied for second place in the standings with Mayville State (N.D.).
  Game 1: Bismarck State 5, Dakota State 4 – FINAL/8 innings

A late push by Bismarck State proved to be the difference in the opener as Dakota State was edged in a back-and-forth contest.

Bismarck State took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a Dakota State error. The Trojans responded in the second on an RBI groundout by Hunter Den Boer, then surged ahead in the third when Aidan Perry launched a two-run home run to make it 3-1.

The Mystics answered in the bottom half of the third inning with a two-run single from Alec Vincent to tie the game. Dakota State regained the lead in the fourth on an RBI single by Connor Raney, but Bismarck State tied it again in the seventh, benefiting from another DSU defensive miscue.

The decisive run came in the eighth inning when Brayden Bunnell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in the go-ahead run.

Key Performances

• DSU:
  • Connor Raney – 3-for-3, RBI, stolen base
  • Aidan Perry – home run, 2 RBIs
  • Hunter Den Boer – 2 hits, RBI
• BSC:
  • Brayden Bunnell – 2-for-3, RBI
  • Alec Vincent – 2 RBI

Pitching

• Hayden Leighty (DSU): 5.0 innings, 3 runs (2 earned runs), 9 strikeouts
• Collin Grimmel (DSU): 1 1/3 innings, 1 run
• Brody Thompson (DSU): 1 inning, 1 run (L)
• Eli Nyhammer (BSC): 1 inning, 0 run (W)

Game 1 Totals

• Dakota State: 4 runs, 9 hits, 3 errors
• Bismarck State: 5 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors

Game 2: Bismarck State 10, Dakota State 8 – FINAL

The nightcap turned into an offensive shootout, highlighted by big innings from both sides, but a six-run fourth inning by Bismarck State proved decisive.

Dakota State jumped out early, scoring in the first and second innings, and extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth on a two-run home run by Cameron Kittridge.

Bismarck State responded with a huge fourth inning, scoring six runs, including a three-run double by Brayden Bunnell and an RBI double from Eric Reiling, to take a 7-4 lead.

The Trojans battled back in the fifth when Connor Raney hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 7-6. However, the Mystics added two more runs in the fifth to stretch the lead to 9-6.

Dakota State continued to fight, scoring once in the sixth on an RBI double by Aiden Barfuss and again in the seventh to make it 9-8, but Bismarck State held on, adding an insurance run and closing out the game.

Key Performances

• DSU:
  • Cameron Kittridge – 3-for-4, home run, 3 RBIs
  • Connor Raney – home run, 2 RBIs
  • Aidan Perry – 2-for-4, 2 runs
• BSC:
  • Brayden Bunnell – 2-for-3, 5 RBI
  • Kaeden Wilcox – 2 runs, RBI
  • Karsen Haney – 2 hits

Pitching

• Max Woll (DSU): 3 2/3 innings
• Alex Ferrin (DSU): 1 inning (L)
• Braylon Bear (DSU): 1 1/3 innings, 0 runs
• Drake Kunza (BSC): 1 inning, 2 runs (W)
• River Walters (BSC): 1 inning, 1 run (SV)

Game 2 Totals

• Dakota State: 8 runs, 11 hits, 3 errors
• Bismarck State: 10 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors

Up Next

Due to forecast cold weather temperatures on Tuesday, Dakota State stays on the road Monday afternoon as they visit their rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  First pitch of the nine-inning game is set for 4 p.m. at Drake Field in Mitchell, S.D.

There will be no developmental baseball home games with Northwestern (Iowa) on Monday afternoon at Flynn Field.  The make-up date has not been determined.