DSU Trojan Baseball News

Trojans Split Games at DAC Baseball Tourney

May 2, 2008
BY DAN HOLSWORTH - MADISON DAILY LEADER SPORTS EDITOR

(Madison, SD) - Four DAC Baseball Tournament games were played at Charlie Brown Field in Valley City, ND, including two games involving Dakota State University.  DSU's Trojans (23-16) stayed alive in the double-elimination tourney by clubbing Mayville State 13-9 in the last game.

"What can I say?  We were down 7-1 and we clawed our way back into the game," said Trojans Coach Dean Berry.  "Our seniors, like Jeff Savas, Josh Guild, and Mike Young, had their college careers on the line in the game."

DSU needed the win to stay in the hunt for the tourney's title after losing 9-4 to host-team Valley City State earlier that day.

Because of expected bad weather on Friday (today), those games have been pushed back to Saturday.  It was reported that Valley City had cold-and-windy weather Friday with a 50-percent chance of rain coming later.

DSU will now play the losers of Valley City State-Dickinson State game at 7:00 pm Saturday.  [If Jamestown defeats Minot State Saturday morning, then Dakota State will play Jamestown at 7:00 pm Saturday night in the loser's out game.]

Saturday's schedule begins at 10 am with the Minot State-Jamestown game, followed by Valley City State vs. Dickinson State at 1:00 pm.  [Those winners will play each other in another 4 pm game.]

Sunday's final round action begins at 10 am.

Valley City State 9, Trojans 4

DSU forged a 4-2 lead over Valley City State after six innings, but the Vikings (15-23) staged a five-run seventh inning, driving Trojan starter and loser Dan Rhodes from the mound.  Valley City State's Reid Arnold, Jeremy Wiebe, and Chris Olson all homered in the game's seventh inning.

"The wind had to be blowing between 30 and 40 mph, and out to the outfield," said Berry.  "They hit three balls which, on any other day, would have been routine fly balls.  But they went out of the ballpark, bringing in five runs."

Valley City State scored two more runs off reliever David Morgan in the ninth inning to collect the win.

The Trojans lost the game, but still outhit Valley City State 14-8.

DSU's lead-off hitter Savas garnered three hits, including a double, and Guild followed with a 4-for-5 plate outing.  Greg Biagi and Armando Rodriguez each had two singles.   Wiebe had three of the Vikes' eight hits and drove in four of their nine runs.

Despite losing the game, Rhodes had eight strikeouts, limiting Valley City State to just five hits.

"The wind also made it a challenging day for pitchers."  added Berry.  "Really, Dan gave us another great day."

Trojans 13, Mayville State 9

Trailing 7-1, DSU manufactured three 4-run innings in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings, while outslugging Mayville State 16-13.

Savas, who went 4-5, clubbed out a double and scored three times for the winners.  Rodriguez added three singles and two RBIs.

Young, the Trojans' catcher, added three RBIs and Zane Roduner and Deryk Randt also doubled for the Trojans.  Morgan picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief at the end of the ball game.

Jason Kramp started for the Trojans, going the first four innings before handing the ball over to Nick Recor in the fifth inning.

The three Trojan pitchers combined for eight strikeouts.  Mayville State's lead-off hitter Jake McLain had a perfect 4-4 game at the plate, which included two doubles.  Catcher Mike McNally added a home run and a single, while Zachary Schaefer tacked on two singles.

Mayville State reliever Nick Bata, who pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, was saddled with the loss.  Paul Waterman started for Mayville State and went the first 4 2/3 innings before giving way to Heath Lee.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State Sports Information Director