DSU Opens NSAA Play With Doubleheader Sweep

In their NSAA opener yesterday, the Dakota State baseball team earned the doubleheader sweep over Waldorf, with scores of 12-11 and 18-4.

In game one of the doubleheader, the Trojans grabbed the first lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. The Warriors then answered with their first two runs in the bottom of the second, followed by two more in the third for their first lead at 4-2. 

In the fourth inning, the Trojans regained the lead with four runs scored, all after two quick outs in the inning, taking a 6-4 lead.

Both sides continued to add runs, with the game tied 11-11 after seven-innings, sending it to extra innings. DSU was able to register a run in the eighth, and with Waldorf unable to answer, the Trojans grabbed game one of the doubleheader with a final score of 12-11.

The Trojans poured 20 hits in the game compared to Warriors 14 hits. DSU left 14 runners on base, while WU had six runners left on base.

Dakota State produced eight doubles in the game, paced by Manny  Macaluso with three doubles. He also had a single and drove in three runs. Walker Hultgren had two doubles, two walks, and scored twice. 

Jace Pribyl was 4-of-5 at the plate with four singles and drove in five runs for DSU. Chris Burke had a double and three singles.  

Thomas Capllonch had a home run, single and two RBIs for Waldorf.  

Grant Svikulis started the game on the pitching mound for DSU, working for 6 1/3 innings. He gave up five runs (three unearned) on six hits.  He registered five strikeouts. Nicholai Arbach tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits.

Cole Westerlund (W, 1-3) earned his first win of the season after working in the bottom ninth for DSU. JD Kirchner (S, 2) earned the save after pitching a scoreless 10th inning.

Ryan Meyer started the game for Waldorf, pitching four innings and gave up six runs on eight hits.  He recorded five strikeouts. Gunnar Huffman tossed two innings in relief, allowing three runs (one unearned) on four hits. Kade Hobbs tossed two scoreless innings.

Ryuya Kato pitched in the ninth inning for the Warriors, giving up two runs on four hits.  Trevor Brace (L, 0-1) took the setback after allowing a run on two hits.

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The second game of the doubleheader, the Trojans were able to get the double-digit victory despite trailing after three-innings.

DSU once again opened up the game with the early lead, going up 1-0 after the first. The Trojans added two more runs in the third, before the Warriors scored four runs in the bottom of the third-inning.

Those would be the only runs the Warriors could score, as they could not find an answer for DSU the rest of the way. The Trojans went on to score 15 unanswered runs, including six runs in both the fifth and seventh innings. 

After their large scoring outburst, the Trojans went on to sweep the Warriors 18-4.

DSU outhit WU 16-5 in the game. The Trojans left 11 runners on base compared to the Warriors seven runners left on base.

Macaluso paced DSU’s offense with two doubles and drove in three runs. He scored twice and reached on base by a walk twice. Burke added two doubles, two runs, RBI, and two walks.  

Hultgren tallied a double, single, two RBIs, and scored three times for Dakota State.  Green had a single, two RBIs, and two walks. Pribyl had two singles and two RBIs.  

Damien Sanchez led the Warriors with a home run, single and two RBIs.  

Sam Tyrpa (W, 3-0) earned the victory after tossing six innings on the pitching mound for Dakota State. He allowed four runs (one unearned) on five hits and struck out 10 WU’s batters.  Aiden Urbom pitched a shutout seventh inning in relief.

Marc Luna (L, 2-2) took the defeat after pitching four innings for Waldorf. He gave up five runs on nine hits and registered six strikeouts. Gavin Williams, Jamie Olson, and Evan Kroll allowed a combined 13 runs (11 unearned) on seven hits in the bullpen.

Dakota State extended their winning streak to a season-high four games, improving their overall record to 11-12. The Trojans are 2-0 record in the North Star contests, the first time since the 2016 season that DSU started the NSAA conference season with a doubleheader sweep.  Waldorf fell to 5-13 overall record and 0-2 NSAA conference record.

Dakota State and Waldorf play another doubleheader this afternoon, with the first game set for 12pm.