Tigers pick up crucial win at Midland

FREMONT, Neb. – With Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason tournament seeding on the line, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team split a two-game series with Midland University. DWU defeated Midland 4-1 in the opening game and lost 7-1 in the second game on Saturday in Fremont, Neb.

 It did not take long for DWU to get on the scoreboard as Drew DeMers (Winner, S.D.) singled to right field, bringing home the first run of the game in the first inning. The Warriors (23-23, 16-12 GPAC) answered in the next frame with an unearned run.

 However, the Tigers (21-20, 15-11 GPAC) regained the lead in the third inning as Reed Harter (Colome, S.D.) kicked off the frame with an RBI single. DeMers came up to bat next and tripled down the right-field line, bringing a pair of runs home.

 Midland was unable to score for the remainder of the game as the Tiger fielding only allowed two hits through the final five innings, pushing DWU onto victory.

 Dominique Boerger (Milbank, S.D.) picked up the win on the mound as he struck out five batters and allowed three just hits. DeMers led the team at the plate as he finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Harter went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

 In the second game, Joseph Hanisch (Hartford, S.D.) smacked an RBI single to center field to put DWU up in the second inning. But, Midland took its' first lead of the day in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run double.

 The Warriors added three runs in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth frame to take the second game.

 Hanisch tallied the lone RBI at the plate, while Cole Gassman (Canova, S.D.) went 2-for-4 and Harter finished 1-for-3. Ethan Davis (Billings, Mont.) pitched five innings and collected one strikeout and allowed five runs.

 The Tigers conclude the regular season with a doubleheader at Morningside College at 2 p.m. today in Sioux City, Iowa.