Trojans End Season with Third Place at the DAC Baseball Postseason Tournament

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Trojans End Season with Third Place at the DAC Baseball Postseason Tournament

May 4, 2009

MINOT, N.D. - The Dakota State University ended their 2009 campaign at the DAC Baseball Postseason Tournament. The Trojans went 2-2 on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday (May 2nd), the fourth-seeded Trojans defeated fifth-seed Mayville STate 8-6. Later on the same day, Dakota State held an early lead over top-seed Dickinson State. However, the Blue Hawks used a key five-run fifth inning to defeat the Trojans, 8-5.

Dakota State faced elimination on Saturday, May 3rd. The Trojans faced the Comets for the second time in the tournament. The Trojans shut down Mayville State 10-0 in a ten-run mercy rule in seventh inning.

Dickinson State played the Trojans in another elimination game. The Trojans had a 7-3 lead heading in the eighth inning, but the Blue Hawks came back and defeat Dakota State in 10 innings, 8-7.

The loss ended the Trojans' Baseball season with a 20-21 overall and a third place finish in the DAC.

In the championship series, the Jamestown Jimmies lost their first game to Dickinson State (10-8 in 11 innings), but the Jimmies would rally in the second championship game and defeated the Blue Hawks, 9-2. Jamestown has earned an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in Sioux City, Iowa.

First Round - Dakota State 8, Mayville State 6

After Mayville State scored the first run of the game in the third inning, Trojan Ryan Breitling hit a grand slam in the bottom fourth to take a 4-1 lead.

The Comets would creep back in the game with a pair of solo homers in the fifth and sixth innings Mayville State added a run in the top eighth inning, but Dakota State kept their lead.

The Trojans would add another four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Comets rallied in the final inning but fell short as the Trojans advanced in the winner's bracket.

Breitling's 2-for-4 behind the plate with four RBIs led the Trojans' offense attack. Jose Figueroa went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Chad Hunt, Brian White, Zane Roduner and Armando Rodriguez each added a single.

Kyle Swenson, Brock Gnadt and Patrick McCray each homered for the Comets. Jake McLain added a double. Erik Scott, Doug LaPlam, Chad Rakowski, Taylor Fuhs, Henry Rance and Alex Berry each had a single for the Comets.

Bryan McIntyre started for the Trojans He tossed 7 2/3 innings and gave up three runs (one unearned) on nine hits. Zach Weber (3-2) came in relief for one inning and recorded the win for the Trojans. He gave up three runs. Jared Donahue closed the game to record his first save of the season.

Austin Baukol suffered the loss for Mayville State. He pitched a complete game. Baukol gave up eight runs (four unearned) on eight hits. He struck out eight batters.

Box Score vs. Mayville State

Winner's Bracket - Dickinson State 8, Dakota State 5

In the first meeting between the two teams, the Trojans grabbed an early lead in the game with two runs in the third inning. Dakota State extended to 3-0 in the fifth inning

The Blue Hawks scored five runs in the fifth inning to overtake the lead in the game. Dakota State could not come back in the game as the Trojans suffered the first loss in the tournament.

Hibraim Cordova, Josh Tiede and Roduner each had a double for the Trojans.

Dickinson State's offense was led by Cody Holland, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Tony Isbell added a double and recorded two RBIs.

Cody Cusey (1-2) took the loss for the Trojans. He pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on four hits. Jerod Burleson came in relief in 3 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs on five hits. Burleson struck out four batters.

Isbell (3-1) notched the win for Dickinson State. He tossed six innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on four hits. Tucker Slage came in for one inning of relief. He gave up two runs on three hits. Andrew Grafton recorded his sixth save of the season as he pitched two final shut out innings. He limited the Trojans to one hit.

Box Score vs. Dickinson State

Loser's Out Game - Dakota State 10, Mayville State 0 (7 innings)

The Trojans' offense got their offense rolling with a combined 10 runs, starting in the second inning. Dakota State ended the game by a 10-run mercy rule in the seventh inning to eliminate the Comets in the tournament.

Derek Grundmann and Cordova homered for the Trojans. Tiede had two doubles. Chad Hunt went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Roduner, White, Rodriguez and Figueroa each added a single for Dakota State.

Trojan Donahue (3-2) limited the Comets' offense to just four singles. Scott had two singles while Gnadt and Ricky Klontz each had a single.

Donahue pitched a complete game. He struck out seven batters.

Matthew Mueller (2-5) took the loss for Mayville State. He tossed three innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Zachary Schafer came in for 1/3 innings, allowing three runs. Dan Silva finished the game for the Comets in 3 2/3 innings. He gave up seven runs on four hits.

Box Score vs. Mayville State

Loser's Out Game - Dickinson State 8, Dakota State 7 (10 innings)

With a berth to the championship game up for grabs, the Blue Hawks jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, but the Trojans would answer back and tied the game in the same inning.

The Trojans overtook the lead in the game, scoring two runs in the third and fourth inning to make it 7-3 in favor of Dakota State.

Dickinson State added a run in the sixth and eighth inning to cut the Trojans' lead to 7-5.

Blue Hawk Derrick Gunderson hit a two-run shot to left field in the ninth inning to help Dickinson State tie the game and forced extra innings.

The Blue Hawks scored a run in the tenth inning to take an 8-7 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Dakota State threatened to score, putting a runner at first and third with one out. Grafton shut the Trojans as he struck out the next batter and got the final out by fly out to left field.

Tiede had two doubles for the Trojans. Grundmann, Chris Moffatt and Cordova each had a double. Moffatt and Tiede had two RBIs each.

For Dickinson State, Holland had a triple. Isbell and Efrain Ruiz each had a double.

Bob Olson started for Dakota State. He tossed 1 1/3 innings and gave up three runs (one unearned) on three hits. Burleson (1-5) suffered the loss for the Trojans. He pitched 8 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed five runs (one unearned) on 10 hits.

Dickinson State started Cory Neer on the mound. He tossed 2 1/3 innings and gave up four runs (one unearned) on six hits. Ryan Saunders came in relief and pitched 4 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. Saunders struck out five batters.

Blue Hawk Grafton (4-2) prevented the Trojans' comeback. He limited the Trojans to one hit in the final three innings. He struck out four batters.

Box Score vs. Dickinson State

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
Edited by Ariy-El Boynton, Madison Daily Leader Sports Editor