Prell's big hit pushes Blue Hawks to split with Jamestown

DICKINSON, ND – The Dickinson State baseball team earned a split with in-state rival University of Jamestown on Friday, dropping game one 5-3, but responding in game two with a 5-1 victory.

GAME 1

The University of Jamestown jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first two innings thanks to two homeruns and a triple. However, in the bottom of the third inning the Blue Hawks offense came to life. Richie Cortese homered to lead off the inning with a towering blast to left center field, getting DSU on the board for the first time. Dawson Cortese and Derrick Calvillo followed with singles to give the Blue Hawks two on with nobody out. Cade Ostenson worked a walk to load the bases for Robert Encinas, still with no one out. Encinas came through for the Blue Hawks with a line drive single to left, scoring Cortese. This forced a Jamestown pitching change, and the Blue Hawks were only able to push one more run across on a Mathias Dufner bases-loaded walk, to bring the score to 4-3.

That was as close as DSU would get, as Jamestown used 3 pitchers to cover the final innings without allowing another run. Jamestown tacked on another run in the 5^th for the final tally.

Dawson Cortese led the DSU offense, going 2-4 on the day. Richie Cortese was 1-4 with a HR and an RBI, while Dufner went 0-0 with 3 walks and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Brannan Hogan went 4.2 innings and allowed 5 earned runs on 5 hits in his first start of the season. John Koronka and Cade Kazmirski combined for 2.1 innings of hitless relief to finish the game.

GAME 2

The nightcap started out a pitcher's duel, with neither team able to push across a run until Jamestown scored with two outs in the top of the 5^th inning on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the 5^th inning, the Blue Hawks were finally able to get to UJ starting pitcher Payson Mills. Robert Encinas led off the inning with a hard-hit single to left and was lifted for pinch-runner Alberto Nieto. Nieto advanced to second a wild pitch, giving DSU its best scoring opportunity of the night thus far. Mills was able to strike out Cade Ostenson and Kaiden Reeve and looked poised to squash the Blue Hawk rally, but back-to-back walks to Keanu Calamayan and Jacob Clinton forced Jamestown to make a pitching change. Connor Nipp came in for the Jimmies and was promptly greeted by a bases-clearing double by Clay Prell, giving Dickinson State a 3-1 lead.

DSU added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the 6^th inning. Derrick Calvillo homered off the scoreboard in right field, and Richie Cortese scored on a throw out of play by the Jamestown right fielder to get to the final score.

Prell led the DSU offense, going 2-3 with the huge double and 3 RBI. Calvillo, Reeve, and Encinas had the other three Blue Hawk hits.

Starting pitcher Kobe Krenz earned the win for Dickinson State going 4.1 innings and allowing only 2 hits and 1 earned run. Richie Cortese and Gabe Lundbeck combined for 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to slam the door.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks return to action next Saturday, September 24, for a road double-header at Valley City State University.