May 2, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. – No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) erased multiple deficits and launched three home runs, including back-to-back solo shots in the eighth inning, to defeat No. 6 seed Bismarck State (N.D.) 9-7 Saturday in the 2026 Frontier Conference Baseball Postseason Tournament loser's-out game at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
The Trojans stayed alive in the postseason and improved to 21-29-1 overall. DSU takes on No. 2 ranked and No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) in another elimination game at 2:30 p.m. (Mountain Time), vying for the spot to the Frontier Conference championship game on Sunday versus No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.). BU's 33-game winning streak was snapped by VCSU Friday evening.
Bismarck State ended its season at 21-27.
How it happened
Dakota State and Bismarck State each pounded out 12 hits, but the Trojans capitalized on three Mystics errors and received five shutout innings of relief from
Braylon Bear to secure the victory.
The Trojans struck first in the third inning after
Hunter Den Boer singled and stole second before
Connor Raney reached on an error.
George Hogan followed with a two-run single to center field, and
Cameron Kittridge later added a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Dakota State advantage.
Bismarck State answered immediately in the bottom half, scoring four times. RBI singles from Kaeden Wilcox, Brayden Bunnell and Eric Reiling tied the contest before Bryson Mohs lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Mystics ahead 4-3.
DSU tied the game in the fourth on Raney's sacrifice fly, but BSC responded again with two runs in the bottom of the inning for a 6-4 lead after Pacey Phillips singled home a run and Reiling drove in another with a ground out.
The Trojans surged back in the fifth.
Quintin Tietz, running for
Camaron Haller after a lead off walk, stole second before
Cameron DeMaria crushed a two-run homer to right field to knot the score at 6-6. Later in the inning,
Aidan Marsh lined an RBI single to right to give Dakota State a 7-6 edge.
Cole Shirley tied the game for Bismarck State in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to center, making it 7-7.
The decisive blow came in the eighth when Marsh blasted a solo homer to right field and Den Boer followed with another solo shot to left, giving Dakota State a two-run cushion at 9-7. Bear retired the Mystics in order in the ninth, ending the game on an inning-ending double play.
Bear earned the win in relief, improving to 2-4 after allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over five innings.
Hayden Leighty started for Dakota State, allowing four runs (one earned) in three innings, while
Austin Armstrong worked one inning.
Isaac Mitchell took the loss for Bismarck State after surrendering two runs over 2 1/3 innings.
Dakota State Offensive Leaders
- George Hogan: 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, run scored
- Cameron DeMaria: 1-for-5, home run, 2 RBI
- Aidan Marsh: 2-for-3, home run, 2 RBI, two walks
- Hunter Den Boer: 2-for-4, home run, RBI, two runs scored, stolen base
- Connor Raney: 1-for-5, RBI, run scored, stolen base
- Camaron Haller: 1-for-3, two walks
Bismarck State Offensive Leaders
- Pacey Phillips: 4-for-5, 2 runs scored, RBI, double
- Brayden Bunnell: 2-for-4, RBI, run scored
- Eric Reiling: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
- Evan Fuchs: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored, triple
- Cole Shirley: 1-for-4, home run, RBI
Up Next
Dakota State plays No. 2 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in another elimination game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (MT).
