Trojans Get Home Series Sweep Over the Vikings

The Dakota State baseball team completed the series sweep against Valley City State yesterday, with scores of 19-9 and 13-0.

A total of 17 runs combined by both Dakota State and Valley City State were scored in the first three innings of game one yesterday. DSU scored at least one run in every inning to secure the victory.

The Vikings had the early lead over the Trojans, but after trailing 8-3, the Trojans went on to outscore the Vikings 16-1. This included a six-run sixth inning for the Trojans.

In the sixth inning, Hakeem Yatim hit a 2-run home run to balloon DSU’s lead to 15-9. Then, Dakota State scored on three straight plays to widen their lead to 19-9 with Mannu Macaluso’s RBI double to score Walker Hultgren, Jace Pribyl’s sacrifice fly to score Jeremy Green, and Chris Burke’s 2-run home run to score Macaluso.

Valley City State couldn’t extend the game into the bottom seventh inning after recording three straight outs, securing the 10-run mercy rule victory for Dakota State.

DSU outhit VCSU 12-9 in the game. The Vikings committed five defensive errors compared to the Trojans two defensive miscues.  Valley City State left five runners on base compared to Dakota State five runners left on base.

Yatim went 2-of-2 at the plate with a home run, single, walk, and drove in a game-high five runs for DSU. Burke added a home run, single, and collected four RBIs. Hultgren hit two home runs and tallied two RBIs.

Macaluso and Dawson Portner each had a double and single for Dakota State.  Macaluso collected two RBIs..

Drew Nixon had a home run and three RBIs for Valley City State. Cam Pero added a home run and drove in two runs. 

Nicholai Arbach started the game on the pitching mound for the Trojans. He tossed two innings and allowed five runs on four hits. He registered five strikeouts. JD Kirchner (W, 5-2) earned the victory after pitching five innings in relief. He gave up four runs (three unearned) on five hits and struck out nine Vikings’ batters.

Harrison Metz started the game for the Vikings.  He worked for two-plus innings and gave up eight runs (four unearned) on six hits.  Riley Resnick (L, 1-6) took the loss after working the third inning, giving up three runs (one unearned) and issuing three walks.  Landon Piehl and Ashton Eldredge also pitched in relief.

________________

In the second game, the Trojans earned the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, and held on to the lead the rest of the way as they shutout the Vikings. 

The Trojans ballooned their lead in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs that included a Jeremy Green grand-slam. 

Then, up 9-0 the Trojans had another strong inning in the bottom of the sixth as they blasted a pair of two-run homers from Macaluso and Dalton Nelson. DSU went on to shut out the Vikings 13-0. 

DSU tallied 11 hits in the game compared to VCSU five hits. The Vikings left six runners on base compared to the Trojans five runners left on base.

Macaluso hit two home runs and drove in four runs for Dakota State. Green added a home run and collected four RBIs. McDaniel had two singles and two RBIs. Nelson recorded a double, single, and two RBIs. Yatim had a hit and an RBI. 

Tory Nelson hit a double for Valley City State.  

Luke Guest (W, 6-3) earned the victory on the pitching mound for DSU. He worked for five innings and yielded the Vikings to four hits. He struck out VCSU’s batters nine times. Will Clair tossed a scoreless sixth inning and recorded a strikeout. Aiden Urbom pitched a shutout seventh inning with two strikeouts.

Andrew Gartrell (L, 0-1) took the setback after pitching 2 1/3 innings for VCSU. He gave up eight runs (two unearned) on six hits. Devon Cook, Thompson, and Mertz also worked in relief.

Dakota State matched its last year’s wins total at 33, lifting their overall record to 33-13 with their 26th win in the last 27 games after starting the season at 7-12 record. The Trojans also raised their NSAA record to 23-1, holding a one-game lead over No. 5 Bellevue before heading to the final NSAA four-game series this weekend in Bellevue, Nebraska. Valley City State dropped their overall record to 11-29 and 7-17 record in the league.

It was the first four-game conference series sweep for Dakota State over Valley City State since April 2-3, 2010, at Flynn Field. The Trojans racked up a total of 61 strikeouts during the four-game series with the Vikings, accumulating a total of 73 strikeouts in DSU’s five-game home stand at Flynn Field.

Dakota State wraps up their regular-season schedule Friday and Saturday, battling for the North Star conference title with nationally ranked Bellevue. The four-game series starts each day at 12pm.