Dakota State and Valley City State combined for 66 runs, 58 hits, and 12 defensive errors on a windy Frontier Conference doubleheader Tuesday at Flynn Field. The Trojans took the opener 18-16 before the Vikings responded with a 16-16 tie in game two.
Dakota State outslugged Valley City State in a back-and-forth opener, using multiple big innings and timely home runs to secure the win.
The Trojans jumped out early on a two-run double by Cameron DeMaria in the first inning, but Valley City State answered with a four-run second to briefly take the lead after Alexis Velasco’s 2-RBI single. Dakota State responded immediately, highlighted by a three-run home run from Cameron Kittridge in the third to regain control.
The Trojans continued to pile on, including a three-run fourth inning with Aiden Barfuss’ RBI double and Hunter Den Boer’s RBI single,
A five-run fifth inning capped by Kittridge’s second three-run homer to extend DSU’s lead to 13-4. Five more runs in the sixth inning, thanks to Aidan Marsh’s grand slam. Valley City State refused to go away, scoring three runs in the fifth, six in the sixth, and three in the seventh, but Dakota State held on behind late relief from Kellan Johns.
Valley City State struck first from Nick Senn’s RBI single, but Dakota State erupted for eight runs in the second inning, highlighted by:
Home runs from Kittridge, Barfuss, and George Hogan
A four-RBI blast by Hogan to cap the inning to grab an 8-1 lead.
The Trojans extended the lead to 11-1 in the third after Hogan’s RBI single, but the Vikings clawed back with:
A five-run third inning
Three runs in the fifth
A run in the sixth to trim DSU’s lead to 11-10
A massive six-run ninth inning to tie the game at 16-16 after Cam Pero’s 2-out grand slam
Dakota State extended their lead in the top seventh to 14-10 after DeMaria’s 2-RBI single followed by Kittridge’s RBIn single. DSU ballooned their lead to 16-10 in the top eighth inning after Camaron Haller’s 2-RBI single.
Before starting the top tenth inning, a student-athlete in the VCSU’s dugout collapsed. As medical personnel tended to the student-athlete, officials decided to end the game in a tie. The student-athlete is conscious and alert, but no more details have been provided.
