Baseball splits games at U.S. Bank Stadium
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team hit the road for a unique non-conference doubleheader with Mayville State University, as they split the contests. DWU fell 4-3 in the first game and won 2-0 in the second game. Both games took place inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday morning at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. in Minneapolis, Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team hit the road for a unique non-conference doubleheader with Mayville State University, as they split the contests. DWU fell 4-3 in the first game and won 2-0 in the second game. Both games took place inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday morning at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. in Minneapolis, Minn.
After a scoreless first three innings of play, DWU drove in a run in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a Kyle Bailey (Brandon, S.D.) sacrifice fly. However, the Comets (1-1) tacked on two runs in the bottom half of the frame to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers (2-3) drove in a run thanks to a single and two walks, followed by another Bailey sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2.
Mayville State responded with a homerun over the right field fence to again claim a one-run lead heading into the final frame.
DWU did not go down quietly, as Cole Hellie (Phoenix, Ariz.) roped an RBI double down the left-field line, tying the game at 3-3.
The Comets (1-1) got a runner on base thanks to a mis-handled bunt, before a walk-off single secured their victory.
Bailey led the scoring attack for the Tigers, as he went 1-for-1 at the plate with two sacrifice flies and two RBIs. Drew Demers (Winner, S.D.) went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored a run, while Hellie went 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI.
In the second game, DWU bounced back to secure the victory. After a scoreless first two innings, Hellie drove in a run to give DWU a 1-0 lead.
The Comets threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning thanks to two base hits. However, DWU held strong as they escaped the inning thanks to a foul ball that resulted in the third out of the inning.
The Tigers tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a two-hit frame.
Ethan Davis (Billings, Mont.) picked up the win as he went seven complete innings surrendering just six hits and no runs, while striking out three batters on the day.
Chandler Bakley (Martin, S.D.) went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Bailey went 2-for-3 with two singles and Hellie went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
DWU heads south for the Tucson Invitational as they battle Briar Cliff University at 4 p.m. on March 6 in Tucson, Ariz.