April 6, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) split a Frontier Conference baseball doubleheader with Valley City State (N.D.) on April 6 at Flynn Field, dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker in the opener before responding with a 3-2 victory in the nightcap. The conference four-game series was originally scheduled to be played in Valley City and had been relocated to Madison.
Dakota State, who played their first home games at Flynn Field this season, was designated as the visiting team for the series. The Trojans are 13-19 overall and 5-5 record in the league. Valley City State is 15-16 overall and 2-8 record in the Frontier Conference games.
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Game 1: Valley City State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 5 - FINAL
Valley City State rallied with five runs in the bottom seventh inning to stun Dakota State 6-5 in the four-game series opener.
The Vikings struck first in the opening inning on an RBI groundout by Alexis Velasco to take a 1-0 lead. Dakota State was held without a hit through five innings before erupting in the sixth.
The Trojans plated five runs in the sixth inning despite recording just two hits in the frame.
Aidan Marsh drove in the tying run on a fielder's choice before
Camaron Haller crushed a grand slam down the left-field line, giving DSU a 5-1 advantage.
Valley City State answered in the seventh inning, capitalizing on timely hitting and defensive miscues. Cody Wielgosh delivered an RBI single, Velasco added a sacrifice fly, and Nick Senn followed with another RBI single to trim the deficit to 5-4.
After the Trojans committed a defensive miscue on the next at-bat, the Vikings then scored the tying and go-ahead runs on another Dakota State's defensive error, completing the comeback.
Dakota State managed to get just three hits but drew 10 walks. Haller drove in four runs, while
Connor Raney reached base four times (one hit, three walks) and scored once. The Trojans left nine runners on base.
Dakota State Leaders
Pitching (DSU)
- Hayden Leighty: 6 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
- Brody Thompson (L, 0-2): 0 innings, 0 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs
Valley City State Leaders
- Hunter Logan: 2-for-3, 2 runs
- Cody Wielgosh: 2-for-4, RBI
- Alexis Velasco: 2 RBIs
Pitching (VCSU)
- Connor Martin: 5-plus innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
- Jarrett Faue: 1 inning, 1 hit, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
- Anthony Carrasquillo (W, 1-0): 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts
Game 2: Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Valley City State (N.D.) 2 - FINAL
Dakota State bounced back in game two with a tightly contested 3-2 victory in a nine-inning contest.
The Trojans struck first in the third inning when
Aidan Perry launched a two-run home run to right field, scoring Raney, who hit a single with one out, for a 2-0 lead.
Valley City State cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Brady Papineau and tied the game in the eighth on a sacrifice bunt RBI by Cody Wielgosh.
Dakota State responded in the ninth inning. Raney reached base and advanced into scoring position, and a Valley City State throwing error allowed
Hunter Den Boer to score the go-ahead run, securing the 3-2 win.
Dakota State Leaders
Pitching (DSU)
- Austin Armstrong: 5 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
- Kellan Johns (W, 2-0): 4 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
Valley City State Leaders
- Cam Pero: 2-for-3, run
- Cody Wielgosh: RBI
- Brady Papineau: RBI
Pitching (VCSU)
- Takao Cookson: 6 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
- Anthony Carrasquillo (L, 1-1): 1 2/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 1 strikeout
- Caleb Hoiseth: 2/3 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs
Up Next
Dakota State and Valley City State close out their Frontier Conference's four-game series Tuesday afternoon with another doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. at Flynn Field.
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