Trojans Earn Four-Game Sweep Over the Warriors

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In the second day of their doubleheader against Waldorf, Dakota State managed to hold off the Warriors to get the four-game series sweep.

For the third straight game, the Trojans opened up the scoring by scoring one run in the first inning. DSU extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third. Waldorf then answered with their first run in the bottom of the third.

For the next five innings, at least one team scored a run in each inning, as Waldorf gained their first lead in the bottom of the seventh, 4-3. The Trojans knotted it up in the eighth, and with neither team able to score in the ninth the game was sent to extra innings.

In the tenth inning, the Trojans regained the lead with one run. With the Warriors unable to answer, the Trojans held off the Warriors in extra innings to get the 5-4 win.

The Trojans outhit the Warriors 13-11 in the game. WU committed four defensive errors while DSU registered one defensive error. Dakota State left 15 runners on base compared to Waldorf 10 runners left on base.

Ryan McDaniel sparked the Trojans’ offense attack with a double, two singles and drove in two runs. Jeremy Green added a double, two singles and an RBI.

Seth Altwine had a triple, single and scored three times for DSU. Cade Wenninger tallied two singles. Walker Hultgren had a hit (15-game hitting streak) and two walks. Chris Burke and Dawson Portner each recorded a single.

Damien Sanchez collected two doubles and a walk for Waldorf.

Will Clair started the game on the pitching mound for DSU. He worked for 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on seven hits. He recorded four strikeouts. JD Kirchner (W, 1-3) collected the victory after tossing 4 2/3 innings in relief. He yielded the Warriors to one run on four hits. He struck out eight WU’s batters.

Zach Meyer pitched 6 2/3 innings for Waldorf. He allowed three runs on eight hits. Gabriel Jaramillo worked for two innings and gave up an unearned run on three hits. Trevor Brace (L, 0-2) took the setback after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief after giving up an unearned run on two hits.

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DSU then continued to be the first team to score, scoring two runs in the first inning of the second game, as Manny Macaluso hit a 2-RBI Single. Waldorf answered with one run in the bottom of the first.

After a scoreless second inning, the Warriors tied the game up in the third at 2-2. The two teams went two more scoreless innings before the Trojans regained the lead in the top of the sixth at 3-2.

After regaining the lead, DSU was once again able to hold off Waldorf by one run, with a final score of 3-2.

The Trojans outhit the Warriors 5-3 in the game. DSU left seven runners on base compared to WU five runners left on base.

Macaluso had a single and drove in two runs for Dakota State. Portner and Burke each added a double. McDaniel and Green each registered a single.

Green, Portner, and Altwine each had a walk for the Trojans.

Luis Rivera had a double for the Warriors.

Luke Guest (W, 3-2) tossed a complete game victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State. He allowed two runs (one unearned) on three hits. He recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in the game.

Skyler Yarborough pitched five innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He registered seven strikeouts. Ryuya Kato (L, 0-1) took the loss after pitching in the sixth inning, giving up an unearned run on one hit. Jake Petty tossed a shutout seventh inning in relief.

Dakota State finished the four-game series with a sweep over Waldorf, the first time that the Trojans swept the Warriors in a 4-game series. In addition, DSU marked the first 4-0 start in the North Star conference play since the league was formed in 2013-14.

Dakota State extended their season-high winning streak to six games, raising their overall record at 13-12. The Trojans are in a three-way tie for first place in the NSAA standings with No. 14-ranked Bellevue and Mayville State after the conference season opening weekend with a perfect 4-0 record.

Waldorf fell to 5-15 overall record and 0-4 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans continue their North Star conference play, slated for Friday and Saturday with Mayville State. The location of the four-game series will not be played in Mayville, ND, due to snow on the ground.