Trojans and Bruins Split Doubleheader

In yesterday’s baseball doubleheader, Dakota State and Bellevue split the games as the Trojans won the first game 9-6 in 15-innings and the Bruins winning 6-4.

DSU jumped out to the early 6-0 lead, which included a Chris Burke grand slam in the fourth inning, before the Bruins went on to score six unanswered runs themselves. 

With neither team able to score in the final innings of regulation, the two sides went into extra innings tied at 6-6.

Both teams continued to fail to put up runs in extra innings, until the Trojans ended their scoring drought in the 15th inning. DSU scored three-runs in the inning, with two coming off of a Walker Hultgren 2-RBI Single. BU was unable to answer the three-run inning of the Trojans, allowing DSU to get the 9-6 win in 15-innings.

The Trojans outhit the Bruins 16-13 in the game. BU committed two defensive errors while DSU did not commit an error. Dakota State left 13 runners on base compared to Bellevue 11 runners left on base.

Burke had a home run, single, and drove in a game-high four runs for Dakota State.  Hultgren added three singles and three RBIs. Ryan McDaniel recorded a double, single, two walks, and an RBI. Jeremy Green collected three singles and scored twice. Manny Macaluso had a hit, two walks, and an RBI.

Dawson Portner registered three singles for DSU.

Conner Barnett had a home run, two singles, and an RBI for Bellevue. Logan Grant added a home run, two walks, and two RBIs. Kanta Kobayashi recorded three singles.  

Sam Tyrpa started the game on the pitching mound for Dakota State. He worked for 6 2/3 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. He registered five strikeouts. JD Kirchner (W, 6-2) earned the victory in relief after tossing 8 1/3 scoreless innings. He yielded the Bruins to six hits and struck out a season-high 12 times. 

It was the sixth straight game Dakota State’s pitching team registered double digits strikeouts (17 strikeouts).

Blake Crippen pitched seven innings for Bellevue, giving up six runs (one unearned) on eight hits. He recorded five strikeouts. Jared Eifler worked 1 1/3 innings in relief, issuing two walks. Parker McMan (L, 3-3) took the loss after pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and recording five strikeouts.

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In the second game, it was Bellevue who got out to the early lead as they led 5-1 after four innings. However, the Trojans attempted to come back down the stretch. 

Down 6-2 in the final inning, Cade Wenninger blasted a 2-run home run, trimming the Bruins lead to 6-4. Despite this, the Trojans were unable to add anymore runs as the Bruins grabbed the doubleheader split with a 6-4 win. 

DSU outhit BU 8-7 in the game. The Trojans committed three defensive errors compared to the Bruins zero miscues.

McDaniel was 2-of-4 at the plate with a double, single, and an RBI for Dakota State.  Wenninger added a home run and drove in two runs. Hultgren, Green, Pribyl, Portner, and Yatim each had a hit.

Kobayashi had a double, single, and scored twice for Bellevue.  

Luke Guest (L, 5-4) took the setback on the pitching mound for DSU. He tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (two unearned) on seven hits. He registered four strikeouts. Aiden Urbom pitched the final out of the bottom of the sixth inning in relief.

Dustin Schorie (W, 7-0) pitched a complete game victory for BU.  He gave up four runs on eight hits.

Dakota State earned their first road victory over Bellevue since April 6, 2012. It was the second straight year that the Trojans earned a victory against NAIA’s Top 10 ranked team of Bellevue (last season DSU defeated No. 7 ranked Bellevue at Flynn Field). 

The Trojans are 34-14 overall record and 24-2 record in the NSAA, holding a one-game lead in the standings. The Bruins have a 39-8 overall record and 22-3 NSAA conference record.

Both teams conclude their regular-season schedule this afternoon with another doubleheader at 12pm and determine the North Star conference regular-season title.