TIGERS DROP BOTH GAMES ON FIRST DAY IN TUCSON, ARIZ. STILL SEARCHING FOR FIRST WIN

Tucson, Ariz. – Dakota Wesleyan baseball dropped both games on the first day of their 2023 Spring Trip in Tucson, Ariz. by scores of 13-2 against Benedictine University Mesa who improved to 10-7 on the season. Then in game two against Southwest Minnesota State University by a score of 4-2. The Mustangs improved to 2-1 on the year with the Tigers dropping to 0-5 and still looking for that first win of the 2023 spring season.

Quick Stats Game 1 vs Benedictine:

Hitters-

• Lane Darrow – 1 for 2, BB, 1 Run
• Seth Christiansen –  1 for 3, 2B, 1 Run
• Wyatt Hunt – 1 for 3, 2 RBI

Pitchers-

• Jacob Glovich – 4.1 innings, 10 H, 8 ER, 4 K
• Troy Wilhelm – 2.0 innings, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 K

Head-to-Head (Benedictine Mesa):

• DWU is now 0-2 all-time against BUM after today's loss.

Quick Stats Game 2 vs SMSU:

Hitters-

• Seth Christiansen – 1 for 4, RBI
• Diego Jirau –  0 for 3, 1 Run, BB

Pitchers-

• Alexander Mizsak – 6.0 innings, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K
• Presten Riddle – 1.0 inning, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB

Recap:

Alexander Mizsak got the start for the Tigers in game two on the day against D2 program Southwest Minnesota State University. Mizsak gave up a leadoff double but then worked out of the inning keeping it scoreless after the Tigers went in order in the top half of the inning. Diego Jirau led off with a walk and advanced to third after a pair of groundouts giving DWU a man in scoring position with two outs. Dakota Wesleyan got a stroke of luck when the SMSU pitcher had a failed pick off attempt that resulted in the Tigers taking a 1-0 advantage after another scoreless frame tossed by Mizsak in the bottom half.

Mizsak continued to cruise through the Mustangs order keeping them scoreless for the next two innings. DWU failed to add on to their lead during that span, keeping it at 1-0 going to the fifth. The Tigers got the first two men on in the inning but couldn't get them across leaving it 1-0 going to the bottom half. The Mustangs finally got to Mizsak thanks to a lead off triple and sac fly. Mizsak kept them there though for a 1-1 score through six frames. DWU bats stayed quiet in the top half and looked like Mizsak was going to cruise through the sixth sitting down the first two batters. However, with his pitch count nearing the 80-90 mark you could tell early season fatigue was kicking in with the control slipping a bit resulting in three walks and a wild pitch in the inning that gave SMSU a 2-1 lead. Mizsak did a great job  of buckling down and doing damage control working out of the inning with just one earned, leaving the bases loaded.

The Tigers went down in order in the seventh and Presten Riddle relieved Mizsak in the bottom half. Riddle allowed a couple men to reach base but worked out of trouble keeping it a 2-1 score after seven innings. Dakota Wesleyan was able to tie it up in the eighth due to smart/quality baseball. Daulton Wilcoxhen led off the inning with a pinch hit single and was pinch ran for by Michael Zeman. Zeman advanced to second thanks to Caleb Meyers doing his job and getting a sacrifice bunt down. Seth Christiansen stepped to the plate with two outs, runner on second and drove a ball to right field coming up with the clutch two-out RBI to tie things up through eight.

Jereko Martinez took over duties on the mound for the Tigers and surrendered two runs in the inning giving the Mustangs the lead back. No heroics would happen this time around with the Tigers falling 4-2 in the contest. Martinez would take the loss for the Tigers (0-2). Christiansen was the bright spot at the plate for DWU going 2 for 7 with a run, RBI and a double between the two games.

Head-to-Head (SMSU Mustangs):

• Dakota Wesleyan is now 2-4 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State after today's loss.

Up Next: The Dakota Wesleyan Baseball team will square off against the Mustangs again tomorrow, March 6^th with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.