Blue Hawks bounce back with Saturday sweep to take series from Mayville State

Sagan Osborne | Dickinson State Sports Information Director

Watford City, N.D. – Dickinson State responded to a 12-6 Friday loss with a Saturday sweep to take the weather shortened NSAA series 2-1. The Blue Hawks got strong starting pitching performances from both Kobe Krenz and Trent Richter as they swept the day, 7-1 and 6-3.

GAME 1

After the Blue Hawks came up empty in the first inning after loading the bases with no one out, Mayville State exploded for 7 runs in the first two innings to take a 7-0 lead in the early going. However, DSU was able to respond with four runs of their own in the top of the third to get back to within three, 7-4.

Alberto Nieto and Keanu Calamayan got the inning started with back-to-back walks and an error on the MSU first baseman on a ground ball by Balas Buckmaster score Nieto after both runners had advanced on a passed ball. A two-out single by Wyatt Wilharm scored Calamayan and a deep fly by Jacob Clinton that just bounced off the fielder's glove scored two runs but was ruled an error.

The Comets got a run back in the bottom half of the inning to make it a four-run game, and added two more in the sixth inning for a 10-4 lead. A two-run home run by Buckmaster in the seventh got DSU within four, but MSU added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning and held the Blue Hawks scoreless the rest of the way for the win.

GAME 2

Kobe Krenz threw 5.2 scoreless innings and Derrick Calvillo snapped out his recent slump with a 3-3 game as the Blue Hawks got back in the win column with a convincing 7-1 win in game two.

Neither team could push across a run until Keanu Calamayan drove a two-strike pitch deep over the left field fence for his second home run of the year giving DSU a 1-0 advantage. DSU added two more runs in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by pinch hitter Kael Richards, his first of the season.

A sacrifice fly by Wyatt Wilham made it 4-0 Blue Hawks in the fifth and Derrick Calvillo connected for a two-run home run of his own in the sixth to give DSU a 6-0 cushion. A bases-loaded walk by Carlos Molina Jr. in the eighth accounted for the last DSU run.

Brannan Hogan went 2.0 innings in relief for Dickinson State allowing one run on two hits, while Cade Kazmirski closed it out with a perfect ninth, striking out two.

GAME 3

Trent Richter didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning and Dickinson State used an early lead to take down Mayville State in the rubber match of the series, 6-3.

Home runs again played a big part in the game as Cade Ostenson and Derrick Calvillo each hit solo home runs in the second and third innings, respectively, to give DSU a quick 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Dickinson State got all the runs it would need as four Blue Hawks crossed home plate. A single by Mathias Dufner and a double to deep right center field by Dawson Cortese gave DSU runners at second and third with one out for Carlos Molina Jr. would singled to center, scoring Dufner. A bunt single by Alberto Nieto loaded the bases for Calvillo who blooped a single into right-center field, scoring Cortese, to make it 4-0 DSU. A walk to Keanu Calamayan forced home another run and an RBI fielder's choice by Balas Buckmaster accounted for the last DSU run.

Despite not having a hit to that point, the Comets would put three runs on Richter in the sixth inning, who finished with a line of 5.2 innings, 4 hits, 3 ER, 6 K, 0 BB, but Alex Stephens got a single out for the second time on the day to end the threat.

Gabe Lundbeck pitched a perfect seventh, striking out two, to earn his first save as a Blue Hawk and giving DSU the series victory.