March 8, 2026

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) closed a rare tripleheader Sunday, snapping their six-game losing skid with a four-game series victory over Mount Mercy (Iowa) at Plaster Athletic Complex.  Dakota State totaled 19 runs and 28 hits across the three contests, highlighted by a dominant 12-3 victory in the final game of the day.

Dakota State improved to 5-12 overall record.  Mount Mercy, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, is 9-8 overall record after earning a 3-1 series victory over the Trojans.
  Game 1:  Mount Mercy (Iowa) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL

Mount Mercy used a seven-run second inning to pull away from Dakota State in the opening game of the day.
Dakota State struck first in the second inning when Cameron Kittridge delivered an RBI single and Hunter Den Boer added a sacrifice fly to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.

Mount Mercy responded immediately in the bottom half with seven runs on seven hits, highlighted by a three-run home run by Lane Spieker that capped the rally and gave the Mustangs a 7-2 advantage.

DSU cut into the lead in the third inning when Kittridge doubled down the left-field line to drive in two runs, narrowing the deficit to 7-4. Mount Mercy added an insurance run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Derek Einertson and held Dakota State scoreless the rest of the way.

Dakota State Statistics

• Cameron Kittridge: 3-for-3, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs
• Cameron DeMaria: 1-for-4, 2 runs
• George Hogan: 1-for-2, double, run
• Chris Vinson: 1-for-3

Mount Mercy Statistics

• DJ Harris: 2-for-2, 2 RBIs
• Chase Gerwig: 2-for-2, RBI
• Lane Spieker: 1-for-2, HR, 3 RBIs

Pitching

Dakota State

• Ryland Carroll (L, 2-2): 2.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 3 K
• Braylon Bear: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 K

Mount Mercy

• Jack Turgasen (W, 1-2): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (2 ER), 5 K
• Michael Schaul: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Game 2: Mount Mercy (Iowa) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

Mount Mercy again jumped out early and controlled the second game behind a strong offensive performance and effective pitching.

The Mustangs broke the game open with six runs in the second inning, collecting six hits during the frame. RBI hits from Derek Einertson, Kade Knock, Lane Spieker, Sam Wiese, and DJ Harris fueled the rally to give Mount Mercy a commanding 6-0 lead.

Dakota State responded in the third inning when Aidan Perry singled home a run before Cameron DeMaria blasted a two-run home run, trimming the deficit to 6-3.

Mount Mercy added three more runs in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single by Drew Terpins, sealing the 9-3 victory.

Dakota State Statistics

• Aidan Perry: 2-for-3, RBI, run
• Cameron DeMaria: 1-for-1, HR, 2 RBIs
• Connor Raney: 1-for-4, run
• Aiden Barfuss: 1-for-3, SB

Mount Mercy Statistics

• Derek Einertson: 3-for-4, RBI
• Kade Knock: 2-for-4, RBI
• Chase Gerwig: 2-for-3, 2 runs
• Lane Spieker: 1-for-3, 2 RBI

Pitching

Dakota State

• Alex Ferrin (L, 1-1): 1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R
• Treyten Kolar: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 6 K
• Caleb Hoppe: 0.2 IP, 1 H
• Cole Drumheller: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K

Mount Mercy

• Tyler Nagelbach (W, 2-1): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 K
• Trenton Feucht: 1.0 IP, 0 H

Game 3: Dakota State (S.D.) 12, Mount Mercy (Iowa) 3 – FINAL

Dakota State exploded offensively in the series finale, scoring 12 runs on 15 hits to earn the victory.

Mount Mercy took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by Lane Spieker, but Dakota State responded in the second inning when Aidan Marsh launched a solo home run.

The Trojans grabbed the lead in the third inning when DeMaria hit a two-run home run. Dakota State continued to build advantage with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings before breaking the game open with five runs in the sixth inning.

Key hits during the sixth-inning rally included RBI singles by Perry and DeMaria, an RBI walk by Barfuss, and a two-run single from Marsh.

Dakota State pitching shut down Mount Mercy over the final two innings to secure the win.

Dakota State Statistics

• Cameron DeMaria: 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBIs
• Aidan Perry: 3-for-3, 3 runs, RBI
• Aidan Marsh: 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs
• Connor Raney: 2-for-4, triple, 2 runs
• George Hogan: 2-for-5, RBI

Pitching

Dakota State

• Max Woll (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 6 K
• Collin Grimmel: 1.0 IP, 1 K
• Brody Thompson: 1.0 IP, 3 K

Mount Mercy

• Cole Conner (L, 1-2): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R
• Will Schufreider: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R

Up Next

Dakota State stays on the road next weekend as they play another four-game series on the road.  The Trojans visit Bethel (Tenn.), starting Friday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday.