Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports and Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. – Dickinson State opened the NSAA Preseason Classic with a 9-4 win over Mayville State and followed it with a 6-2 comeback victory against Jamestown, sweeping both games of a Friday split doubleheader at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
In the opener, Dickinson State (7-16) used a six-run fourth inning to break open a close game and secure the victory over Mayville State. After trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, catcher Cameron Erickson evened the score with a solo home run to left. The Blue Hawks took the lead for good later in the inning on a two-run double by Moses Dokes that scored Wyatt Wilharm and John-Michael Gonzalez Jr.
The Comets responded with two runs in the fourth to briefly tie the game, but Dickinson State's offense answered immediately. Gonzalez singled home a run before Luis Rodriguez added an RBI groundout. Ty Farwell and Logan Braaten each delivered RBI singles, with Braaten's driving in two to push the lead to 8-3. Braaten later scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-3.
Dokes led the Blue Hawks with two hits, including the double, and one RBI. Farwell added two hits and an RBI, while Braaten finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Erickson reached base three times with a homer and two walks. Gonzalez, Rodriguez, and Kadin Finders also contributed to the nine-hit, seven-RBI offensive performance.
Starting pitcher Jacob Scully threw six innings for the win, allowing four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks. He worked around a pair of multi-hit innings in the third and fourth before settling in. Trent Chavez pitched a scoreless seventh to close it out, surrendering one hit and striking out one.
Defensively, Dickinson State committed one error compared to three by Mayville State. The Blue Hawks capitalized on the miscues, scoring three unearned runs. They also drew five walks and were hit by a pitch once while striking out seven times.
Mayville State was led by center fielder Lundmark, who homered and drove in a run, and shortstop Villarreal, who also hit a solo home run. The Comets used three pitchers, with starter Lundmark taking the loss after allowing seven runs, five earned, over three innings.
In the nightcap against Jamestown, Dickinson State fell behind early but used a four-run sixth inning to surge ahead and complete the sweep.
Jamestown opened the scoring in the first with a two-run home run by Muizelaar following a hit-by-pitch to Burke. The Blue Hawks got one run back in the third when Finders tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Erickson.
Starter Cooper Van Luchene kept Dickinson State in the game, throwing four innings while allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Carlos Molina Jr. followed with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief and four strikeouts to earn the win. Patrick Dietz recorded the final out of the game to secure the save.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, the Blue Hawks capitalized on a leadoff walk by Wilharm and a hit and a walk by Gonzalez and Rodriguez. With the bases loaded, Rodriguez advanced on a wild pitch to tie the game. Farwell was then hit by a pitch to give Dickinson State a 3-2 lead. Braaten drew a walk to extend the lead to 4-2, and Erickson followed with an RBI single to cap the inning at 5-2.
Dickinson State added an insurance run in the seventh when Wilharm reached on an error, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout, and scored on a single to center by Dokes.
Gonzalez led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and a run scored. Dokes also had a hit, a walk, and one RBI. Finders added a triple and scored a run, while Erickson drove in two. Wilharm reached base twice and scored twice.
On the mound, Blue Hawk pitching held Jamestown to five hits and two earned runs. Van Luchene, Molina, and Dietz combined to strike out six and walked just two. The bullpen did not allow a hit after the fourth inning.
Jamestown's offense was limited after the first inning, managing just three baserunners over the final six innings. The Jimmies used four pitchers, with Bohlmann taking the loss after walking two and allowing two earned runs without recording an out in the sixth.
Dickinson State committed no errors in the win and turned in several routine defensive plays, including seven groundouts and six flyouts. The Blue Hawks out-hit the Jimmies 6-5 and drew five walks while striking out 10 times.