Dickinson, N.D. – Dickinson State got 5.1 scoreless innings of relief from Trent Richter, but fell, 7-6, to Valley City State in the Opening Round of the North Star Athletic Association tournament on Friday. The Blue Hawks will now take on #2 Dakota State at 9 am on Saturday, the Trojans were upset by #7 Mayville State in the opening game of the tournament.
A double by Wyatt Wilharm in the top of the first inning gave Dickinson State the early lead, but VCSU answered with three straight runs over the next two innings to take a 3-1 lead. Wilharm got the Blue Hawks back to within one in the bottom of the third inning with a towering home run to left field, but the Vikings struck back again, this time scoring four runs to chase DSU starter Jonathan Lerma and take a 7-2 lead.
A lengthy rain delay followed, halting play in the bottom of the fourth inning for over an hour. After the rain delay, DSU got a scoreless inning and immediately scored three runs in the top of the fifth, getting RBI hits from Mathias Dufner and Clay Prell while also scoring a run on a double steal.
Jace Buchanan doubled home Nathaniel Jilek in the eighth inning to get within one, 7-6, but that was as close as DSU would come, not reaching second base again.
Richter dazzled in relief, retiring the last 16 hitters he faced after giving up a single to the first batter he faced.