April 30, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. – Fourth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) opened the 2026 Frontier Conference Baseball Tournament with a back-and-forth battle Thursday morning, but fifth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) used a four-run ninth inning to pull away for an 11-8 victory in the opening round at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark. Both teams faced each other for the fifth straight game after playing their four-game series regular-season finale last weekend.
The Trojans fell to 19-29-1 overall record. Mayville State went 1-1 record on the first day to move to 23-23 overall record, despite falling to No. 2 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) 20-1 in seven innings late Thursday afternoon.
How it happened
DSU erased deficits multiple times and tied the contest late, but Mayville State's timely hitting in the final frame proved to be the difference.
Dakota State struck first in the bottom of the opening inning.
Connor Raney singled, swiped two bases during the game, and later scored to give DSU a 1-0 edge.
Mayville State answered immediately with a run in the top of the second and added another in the third to take a 2-1 lead.
The Comets continued their offensive push in the third and fourth innings, extending their advantage to 6-1 behind a steady attack that produced 17 total hits. Robert Gurney homered and doubled, while Kevin Conway also connected for a home run. Keegan Neva paced Mayville State with three hits, including a triple, while Tony Villarreal added three hits and two RBIs.
Dakota State began its comeback in the fourth inning.
Aidan Marsh launched a two-run homer, trimming the deficit to 6-3. The Trojans then surged in the seventh inning, sparked by another home run by Marsh followed by
Camaron Haller when he blasted a two-run homer to even the score at 6-6.
Mayville State regained momentum in the eighth inning, scoring a run on a bases loaded error with two outs for a 7-6 lead. Dakota State answered again in the bottom half, where
Cameron Kittridge blasted a solo home run to tie the game 7-7.
Hunter Den Boer followed up with an RBI single to give DSU an 8-7 lead.
In the decisive top of the ninth, the Comets strung together four runs to reclaim control at 11-8 capped by Tony Villarrel's 2-RBI double. Dakota State retired in order in the bottom half, sealing the Mayville State victory.
Haller powered the Trojan offense by going 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. DeMaria added a three-run homer, while Raney finished 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and a run scored.
George Hogan, Kittridge, and Marsh each added two hits. Marsh collected three RBIs.
Dakota State totaled 14 hits but struck out 12 times and left five runners on base.
Garret Lundmark started for Mayville State, tossing seven innings with 11 strikeouts. Jack Antonio (W, 2-0) earned the win in relief after working the final two innings.
Austin Armstrong got the start for Dakota State, working for three innings.
Kellan Johns came in and tossed 4 2/3 innings.
Ryland Carroll worked for the final out in the top eighth.
Brody Thompson (L, 1-4) took the setback after pitching in the top ninth, while
Braylon Bear came to hold the Comets scoreless for the final two outs.
Game Statistics
Dakota State Leaders
Mayville State Leaders
- Robert Gurney: 2-for-5, home run, 2 RBIs
- Tony Villarreal: 3-for-4, 2 RBIs
- Keegan Neva: 3-for-5, 3 runs, triple
- Jack McQueen: 2 RBIs
- Marshall Judisch: 2 RBIs
Up Next
Dakota State faces No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) in the loser's out game Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time).
