April 7, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) combined for 66 runs, 58 hits, and 12 defensive errors on a windy Frontier Conference doubleheader Tuesday at Flynn Field. The Trojans took the opener 18-16 before the Vikings responded with a 16-16 tie in game two.

DSU took the Frontier Conference baseball season series over VCSU with 3-1-1 record.  The Trojans are 14-19-1 overall record and 6-5-1 Frontier Conference record.  The Vikings are 15-17-1 overall record and 2-9-1 record in the league.
  GAME 1: Dakota State 18, Valley City State 16 - FINAL

Dakota State outslugged Valley City State in a back-and-forth opener, using multiple big innings and timely home runs to secure the win.

The Trojans jumped out early on a two-run double by Cameron DeMaria in the first inning, but Valley City State answered with a four-run second to briefly take the lead after Alexis Velasco's 2-RBI single. Dakota State responded immediately, highlighted by a three-run home run from Cameron Kittridge in the third to regain control.

The Trojans continued to pile on:

• A three-run fourth inning with Aiden Barfuss' RBI double and Hunter Den Boer's RBI single
• A five-run fifth inning capped by Kittridge's second three-run homer to extend DSU's lead to 13-4
• Five more runs in the sixth inning, thanks to Aidan Marsh's grand slam

Valley City State refused to go away, scoring three runs in the fifth, six in the sixth, and three in the seventh, but Dakota State held on behind late relief from Kellan Johns.

Dakota State Leaders

• Cameron Kittridge: 2-for-4, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs
• Aidan Marsh: 1-for-1, home run, 4 RBIs
• Aiden Barfuss: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs
• Hunter Den Boer: 4-for-4, RBI
• Cameron DeMaria: 2 RBIs, 4 walks

Valley City State Leaders

• Jackson Penner: 1-for-2, 3 RBIs
• Evan Gonzalez: home run, 3 RBIs
• Alexis Velasco: 2 RBIs
• Anthony Madsen: 2 RBIs

Pitching

• Win: Ryland Carroll (DSU) (W, 3-5) – 4 2/3 innings, 7 earned runs, 5 strikeouts
• Save: Kellan Johns (DSU) (S, 1) – 1.0 inning, 0 runs
• Loss: Grady Shipman (VCSU) (L, 3-2) – 3-plus innings, 6 earned runs, 4 strikeouts

Dakota State drew 16 walks and scored 18 runs on 12 hits. GAME 2: Dakota State 16, Valley City State 16 – FINAL/TIE

Valley City State struck first from Nick Senn's RBI single, but Dakota State erupted for eight runs in the second inning, highlighted by:

• Home runs from Kittridge, Barfuss, and George Hogan
• A four-RBI blast by Hogan to cap the inning to grab an 8-1 lead.

The Trojans extended the lead to 11-1 in the third after Hogan's RBI single, but the Vikings clawed back with:

• A five-run third inning
• Three runs in the fifth
• A run in the sixth to trim DSU's lead to 11-10
• A massive six-run ninth inning to tie the game at 16-16 after Cam Pero's 2-out grand slam

Dakota State extended their lead in the top seventh to 14-10 after DeMaria's 2-RBI single followed by Kittridge's RBIn single.  DSU ballooned their lead to 16-10 in the top eighth inning after Camaron Haller's 2-RBI single. 

Before starting the top tenth inning, a student-athlete in the VCSU's dugout collapsed.  As medical personnel tended to the student-athlete, officials decided to end the game in a tie.  The student-athlete is conscious and alert, but no more details have been provided.

Dakota State Leaders

• George Hogan: 4-for-6, home run, 5 RBIs
• Cameron Kittridge: 3-for-5, home run, 2 RBIs
• Cameron DeMaria: 2-for-5, 3 RBIs
• Connor Raney: 2-for-5, 3 runs
• Chris Vinson: 2 hits, RBI

Valley City State Leaders

• Cam Pero: 5 RBIs, grand slam
• Alexis Velasco: 3 RBIs
• Nick Senn: 2 RBIs
• Brady Papineau: 2 hits, RBI, 4 runs

Pitching

• Dakota State used four pitchers in the game, with Kellan Johns throwing 3.0 innings in relief; Max Woll started the game, followed by Treyten Kolar and Alex Ferrin.
• Valley City State utilized five pitchers in the game – Easton Francis, Caleb Hoiseth, Jarrett Faue, Jackson Penner, and Bryce Meyers

Dakota State finished with 18 hits, while Valley City State recorded 15 hits and drew 10 walks in the nightcap. Up Next

Dakota State continues their Frontier Conference action this weekend versus Dickinson State (N.D.).  The four-game series were originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday but has been pushed to Saturday-Sunday at Flynn Field.  Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., followed by another doubleheader Sunday at 12 p.m.

Another schedule notes for next Tuesday, DSU's non-conference 9-inning game at home versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) has been postponed.  The Trojans will now play the Frontier Conference 9-inning game versus No. 3 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) at 2 p.m. next Tuesday at Flynn Field.