Trojans Now In Sole Possession of First Place in NSAA

After extending their win streak to 16 yesterday, the Dakota State baseball team is now in sole possession of first place in the NSAA with 3-2 and 4-1 victories over Viterbo.

In game one it was Viterbo who jumped out to the early lead with two runs in the first inning. It wasn’t until the eighth inning that DSU was finally able to add runs to the scoreboard, tying the game with two-runs in the inning off of Walker Hultgren’s 2-RBI Double. 

With the game knotted up at 2-2 in the ninth, the Trojans were able to score the tie breaking run to earn the 3-2 victory against the V-Hawks.

Viterbo had nine hits in the game compared to Dakota State seven hits. VU left 15 runners on base compared to DSU five runners left on base.

Jeremy Green led the Trojans with three singles. Hultgren had a double and collected two RBIs.  Ryan McDaniel had two singles and a walk. Seth Altwine recorded a single and a run scored.  Burke had a walk and a run scored.

Kendal Hofer was 3-of-5 at the plate with three singles and a run scored for Viterbo.

Grant Svikulis pitched five innings for Dakota State. He gave up two runs (one unearned) on six hits and recorded four strikeouts. JD Kirchner (W, 4-3) earned the victory in relief, tossing four scoreless innings. He limited the V-Hawks to three singles and registered five strikeouts.

Bryant Koenig pitched six scoreless innings for Viterbo. He yielded five singles. Dominic LeBlanc worked for 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits. Alec Danen (L, 1-3) took the defeat after pitching one-plus inning, allowing a run and two walks.

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The second game of the doubleheader had the Trojans this time opening up the game with two runs in the first inning. The V-Hawks recorded their first run of the match in the third inning, cutting into the score with DSU now up 2-1. 

Chris Burke then hit a 2-RBI Double in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Trojans lead to 4-1. V-Hawks were unable to answer the rest of the way as DSU earned the day one doubleheader sweep against Viterbo, with a 4-1 final.

Dakota State had seven hits in the game compared to Viterbo’s six hits. The Trojans left seven runners on base compared to the V-Hawks six runners left on base.

Burke was 2-of-3 at the plate with a double, single, and drove in two runs for DSU. Hultgren added a double, single, and an RBI. Manny Macaluso had a single, two walks, and an RBI.  McDaniel tallied a single and a walk. Dawson Portner recorded a single.

Hofer had a double and an RBI for VU.  

Sam Tyrpa (W, 6-0) tossed a complete game victory on the pitching mound for Dakota State.  He allowed one run on six hits and struck out four VU’s batters.

Cale Beckman (L, 1-2) took the setback after working for five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. He recorded four strikeouts. Brandon Shepherd pitched a shutout sixth inning in relief.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 23-12, and extended their best start in the NSAA, remaining undefeated with 14-0 record. With Waldorf splitting their doubleheader on the same day at No. 5 ranked Bellevue, the Trojans moved into sole possession for first place in the North Star baseball conference standings.

Viterbo fell to 8-21 overall record and 6-8 NSAA conference record. 

Dakota State and Viterbo conclude their four-game series with another doubleheader this afternoon, with the first game at 12pm.