Trojans Fall Short of Comeback in NSAA Semifinals

The Dakota State baseball team fell victim to the surprising run of Mayville State in the NSAA Baseball Postseason Tournament yesterday, denying the Trojans a trip back to the championship game.  

The Trojans opened the game with a run before the Comets exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the first inning, highlighted by a 3-RBI triple for a 5-1 lead.

Dakota State stormed back in the top fourth inning to knot the game, fueled by a lead-off solo home run by Chris Burke. Walker Hultgren capped the Trojans’ four-run fourth inning production with an RBI double to tie the game at 5-5.

Mayville State produced four hits and two runs in the bottom fifth to break the 5-5 tie into a 7-5 lead. The Comets added a run in the seventh and two more runs in the bottom eighth inning after a 2-run home run for a 10-5 lead.

Dakota State started the top ninth with three straight hits from Mason Macaluso, Hakeem Yatim and Burke. Burke collected an RBI single as the Trojans trailed 10-6.

After a pitching change by the Comets, DSU added a run to reduce their deficit to 10-7. 

Despite the Trojans comeback efforts though, Mayville State’s defense recorded the final out of the ninth inning to secure a spot to the conference championship game.

DSU outhit MSU 14-13 in the game. The Trojans left 11 runners on base compared to the Comets’ eight runners on base.

Dakota State drilled six doubles in the game, with Hultgren and Yatim each with two doubles. Ryan McDaniel, and Cade Wenninger each had one. Hultgren finished the game with three hits and two RBIs. Jace Pribyl had three hits and an RBI. Yatim and Burke each had two hits.

Villanueva sparked MSU’s offense attack by going perfect 4-of-4 at the plate with a home run, three singles, and drove in four runs. 

Grant Svikulis worked for two outs in the first inning for Dakota State. Nicholai Arbach (L, 4-4) took the defeat as he pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief, giving up three runs on seven hits. Will Clair pitched the final two innings in relief.

Braxton Greenburg started the game on the pitching mound for Mayville State, going for three innings. Gunner Thompson (W, 2-1) earned the win after tossing five innings in relief, yielding the Trojans to one run on four hits. He recorded five strikeouts. After the Trojans scored two runs, Alexander DeCaro pitched a shutout inning to close the game.

Mayville State improved to 24-23 overall record, scoring at least 10 runs for the third time in the postseason tournament. Dakota State ended their season at 36-18 overall record.