Blue Hawks hammer ten home runs, sixteen doubles, in sweep of PC

Sagan Osborne | Dickinson State Sports Information Director

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State pounded out 44 total hits, 22 in each game, as they raced past Presentation College, 19-2 and 20-6, to sweep the NSAA doubleheader.

GAME 1

Dickinson State blasted 15 extra base hits, including seven home runs, to beat Presentation College in game one.

After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Hawks scored in each of the next four innings to take control of the game. Home runs by Dawson Cortese, Keanu Calamayan, Cade Ostenson, and Balas Buckmaster gave DSU a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Saints got a pair of runs on a two-out single in the fifth, but the Blue Hawks offense really got things rolling in the seventh inning. Richie Cortese singled home Wyatt Wilharm and Jacob Clinton added a two-RBI single, scoring both Cortese brothers, to make it 9-2 Blue Hawks.

A ten-run eighth inning for DSU ended the game early due to the mercy rule. Calamayan got the scoring started with an RBI double, Buckmaster drove in a run while reaching on an error, and Dawson Cortese hit a two-run double to make it 12-2 with nobody out in the inning. Richie Cortese pushed home Wilharm with an RBI groundout before Clinton and Ostenson went back-to-back for the fifth and sixth Blue Hawk home runs on the day. Calamayan picked up his second hit of the inning, and second home run of the game, when he homered to center field, scoring courtesy runner Nathaniel Jilek for the final margin.

Kobe Krenz earned the win on the bump for the Blue Hawks, going five innings and allowing two runs on two hits while striking out nine and walking two. Cade Kazmirski earned the nine-out save in relief, going three innings and allowing no runs on two hits with four strikeouts.

GAME 2

The offense didn't cool off in game two, pounding out another 22 hits, with 11 going for extra bases, to earn the daily sweep.

After Derrick Calvillo led off the game with a single, Keanu Calamayan doubled to score courtesy runner Cade Kazmirski and give DSU an early 1-0 lead. After Balas Buckmaster moved Calamayan with a fly ball to deep right field, Dawson Cortese followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0 Blue Hawks.

After an error extended the inning for PC in the bottom of the first, the Saints took their first lead of the day, 4-2, on a grand slam to left center field. DSU immediately responded in the top of the second inning when Jacob Clinton was hit by a pitch and Cade Ostenson blasted his third home run of the day to deep center field. A wild pitch scored Nathaniel Jilek who was running for Calvillo after he doubled and Buckmaster doubled home Calamayan to make it 6-4 DSU. A pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs for Clinton who singled to center field, scoring two runs, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

Back-to-back singles by Ostenson and Alberto Nieto led off the third inning before Calvillo gave DSU an 11-4 lead with a line drive home run to center field. Wilharm, Clinton, and Ostenson all picked up RBI for the Blue Hawks in the third as the Blue Hawks built an early 14-4 lead.

Mathias Dufner added a pinch-hit two-run home run in the fifth inning to make it 16-4 Blue Hawks before PC added a pair of runs of their own on a home run to center field and a passed ball to get to within nine, 15-6.

Alex Stephens, Brannan Hogan, and Brendan Schneiter all picked up RBI for the Blue Hawks in the sixth and a bases loaded walk by Schneiter in the seventh provided the final DSU run.

Jonathan Lerma earned the win on the mound for the Blue Hawks, going five innings and allowing six runs, three earned, on five hits while striking out seven and walking one. Dalton Felish and Gabe Lundbeck pitched the final two innings, both retiring the side in order with a pair of strikeouts. The Blue Hawks got RBI from 11 different players in the win as 15 different players collected hits.