Tigers split weekend bout with Lancers

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team split the season series with in-state foe, Mount Marty College as MMC took the two games on Saturday, while DWU won the two games on Sunday in Great Plains Athletic Conference action in Topeka, Kan.

 In the first game of the weekend, the Lancers (9-9, 2-2 GPAC) took a 1-0 lead following a single shot homerun in the bottom of the first inning. Two frames later, MMC added three runs thanks to a two-run single and a one-run single to hold a 4-0 lead.

 The Tigers (7-11, 2-2 GPAC) attempted the comeback as they added a run in the sixth inning, thanks to a throwing error by the Lancer third baseman. However, that is all the scoring DWU would do as they fell, 4-1 in the opening game.

 Drew DeMers (Winner, S.D.) and Kyle Bailey (Brandon, S.D.) went 2-for-3 at the plate, as Chandler Bakley (Martin, S.D.) finished 1-for-3 along with a run scored. Gunnar Johnson (Gresham, Ore.) took the loss on the mound as he pitched six innings, striking out five batters and allowing four runs.

 The second game on Saturday was a low-scoring game as the Lancers took the game, 2-1. DWU held an early 1-0 advantage after DeMers smacked a one-run double. But, the lead was short-lived as MMC tied the game after a DWU error in the bottom half of the frame. Neither team could muster a run until the Lancers scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a sacrifice RBI that proved to be the difference.

 DeMers led the team as he went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Bakley finished 1-for-3 with a run. Ethan Davis (Billings, Mont.) was tabbed with the loss as he pitched six innings, recording seven strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.

 On Sunday, the Tigers took the two games from their in-state rival as they won the first game, 1-0 and defeated the Lancers in the weekend cap, 9-5.

 DeMers and Dominique Boerger (Milbank, S.D.) led the way as DeMers recorded the lone RBI in the opening inning, while Boerger pitched a shutout on the mound. Through the full seven innings, Boerger only allowed four hits, while he struck out three batters.

 Wes Anderson (Duluth, Minn.) finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a run, as DeMers went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

 In the final game of the weekend, the Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second frame after Jerod Zens (Alexandria, S.D.) connected on a two-run single. Half an inning later, MMC cut the Tiger lead in half with a run.

 In the bottom of the fourth inning, Landon Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) kicked off the scoring with an RBI. A few batters later, Anderson tallied a one-run single to extend the lead. DWU was able to record five more RBIs in the inning to hold a 9-1 lead. The Lancers were able to add four runs in the following frames, but the DWU fielding held tough as they secured the victory for the Tigers.

 Zens led the way at the plate as he finished 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and a run. Bakley went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while DeMers finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Anderson, Luke Wodahl (Buffalo, Wyo.), Tyler Torres (Novato, Calif.) and Neugebauer each tallied an RBI in the victory. Gavin Reichmuth (Chandler, Ariz.) picked up the win on the mound as he pitched five and two-third innings, striking out a batter and allowing just two earned runs.

 The Tigers are scheduled to play Mayville State University in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Mitchell.