April 24, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) split a Friday Frontier Conference baseball doubleheader at Flynn Field, with the Trojans rallying for an 8-7 walk-off win in the opener before the Comets responded with an 8-3 victory in the nightcap.
Dakota State is 18-27-1 overall record and 9-13-1 Frontier Conference. Mayville State, which ended their 10-game losing skid after the second game, improved to 21-21 overall record and 8-14 record in the league.
Â
Game 1: Dakota State 8, Mayville State 7 – FINAL
Dakota State used a dramatic five-run sixth inning and a go-ahead run in the seventh to complete a comeback victory.
The Trojans struck first in the opening inning when
Cameron DeMaria drove
in Connor Raney, who led off with a single and swiped to second base, for a 1-0 lead.
Mayville State answered with three runs in the second frame to grab a 3-1 lead, sparked by Zachary Evanochko's solo home run.Â
George Hogan hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom third inning, scoring
Quintin Tietz as the Trojans trailed 3-2 after three innings.
The Comets extended their lead to 7-2 after scoring two runs each in the fourth and sixth innings, producing four RBI singles.
Trailing by five runs in the sixth, Dakota State erupted offensively.
Ryland Carroll highlighted the inning with a 2-RBI double, while Raney added an RBI single. Bases-loaded walks by DeMaria and
George Hogan tied the game at 7-7.
In the seventh, the Trojans capitalized on a Mayville State error as
Aiden Barfuss (who hit a double with one out) scored the game-winning run to secure the 8-7 victory.
Key Performers – Dakota State
Key Performers – Mayville State
- Cam Goff: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
- Tony Villarreal: 2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI
- Zachary Evanochko: home run, RBI
Pitching
- W: Brody Thompson, DSU (1-3) – 1 inning, 0 earned runs, 3 strikeouts
- L: Kyler Droog, MSU (1-2) – 1 1/3 innings, 1 run (0 earned runs)
- Sebastian Mizener, MSU (starting pitcher): 5 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 7 runs, 5 walks
- Dakota State used three pitchers, combining nine strikeouts.
- Hayden Leighty, DSU (starting pitcher): 4 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 strikeouts
- Braylon Bear, DSU: 2 innings, 4 hits, 2 unearned runs, 2 strikeouts
Team Stats
- Dakota State: 8 runs, 8 hits, 2 errors
- Mayville State: 7 runs, 11 hits, 1 error
Game 2: Mayville State 8, Dakota State 3 – FINAL
Mayville State bounced back in the second game, using power hitting and timely scoring to secure the split.
The Comets opened the scoring in the third inning and added runs in the fourth and fifth, including home runs by Evanochko and Tony Villarreal to build a 3-0 lead. A three-run seventh inning pushed MSU's lead to 6-0.
Dakota State got on the board in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer from Raney, but Mayville State answered with runs in the eighth and ninth to maintain control.
Raney added an RBI sacrifice fly in the ninth for the Trojans' final run, but Dakota State could not complete another comeback.
Key Performers – Dakota State
Key Performers – Mayville State
- Tony Villarreal: 3-for-3, 3 runs, home run, RBI
- Cam Goff: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs
- Zachary Evanochko: home run, 2 RBIs
Pitching
- W: Garret Lundmark, MSU (5-3) – 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 9 strikeouts
- Jack Antonio, MSU – 2 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run
- L: Austin Armstrong, DSU (2-3) – 5 innings, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts
Team Stats
- Mayville State: 8 runs, 13 hits, 2 errors
- Dakota State: 3 runs, 8 hits, 1 error
Up Next
Dakota State and Mayville State wrap up their regular season Saturday with another Frontier Conference baseball doubleheader. The first game is set for 12 p.m.
The Trojans will be honoring their nine seniors after the conclusion of the second game.
