TIGERS FALL IN SLUGFEST TO MUSTANGS 17-9
Dakota Wesleyan baseball fell to D2 program Southwest Minnesota State in a slugfest by a score of 17-9 on their second day of their spring, Tucson, Arizona trip. The Tigers were outhit by the Mustangs 17-11. Seth Christiansen got the start for the Tigers and was tagged with the loss. Dakota Wesleyan got the bats going in this one though being led by Drew Kitchens going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in and scored to go with a walk and stolen base. Diego Jirau also collected three hits and a stolen base while hustling around the bases with a triple. Caleb Meyers recorded two hits, one being a double and tied with Kitchens with three RBI in the game.
Tucson, Ariz. – Dakota Wesleyan baseball fell to D2 program Southwest Minnesota State in a slugfest by a score of 17-9 on their second day of their spring, Tucson, Arizona trip. The Tigers were outhit by the Mustangs 17-11. Seth Christiansen got the start for the Tigers and was tagged with the loss. Dakota Wesleyan got the bats going in this one though being led by Drew Kitchens going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in and scored to go with a walk and stolen base. Diego Jirau also collected three hits and a stolen base while hustling around the bases with a triple. Caleb Meyers recorded two hits, one being a double and tied with Kitchens with three RBI in the game.
Quick Stats:
Hitters-
- Drew Kitchens – 3 for 4, 3 RBI & Runs, BB, SB
- Diego Jirau – 3 for 5, 1 Run, 3B, SB
- Caleb Meyers – 2 for 4, 3 RBI, 2B
Pitchers-
- Seth Christiansen – 4.0 innings, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
- Brady Christoffels – 2.0 innings, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K
Recap:
Seth Christiansen got the nod against D2 program Southwest Minnesota State on the second day of games in Tucson, Ariz. The Mustangs got to Christiansen early plating six runs in the first three innings for an early 6-0 deficit after the Tiger bats went quiet through the first two frames. DWU started to chip away at the SMSU lead plating two runs in the bottom of the third. The Tigers used two hits and one Mustang error to score the two runs in the inning. Kitchens and Christiansen recorded the hits while Kitchens and Darrow, who reached on a fielders choice, were active on the base paths both stealing second during the inning. Tigers trailed the Mustangs 6-2 heading to the fourth inning.
Southwest regained their lead and added on plating four runs on three hits and one Tiger error in the half inning for a 10-2 lead. Once again, the Tigers responded bringing three men across to score in the bottom half of the inning on three hits. Jirau led off the inning with a hustle triple and scored on a successfully ran double steal with Jake Kostenbauer at first who reached on a walk. Kostenbauer was plated on another Kitchen's base hit who came around to score off of a laced Meyers double to center. After four innings of play the Tigers trailed 10-5. The fifth inning saw no damage done by either team, marking the first scoreless inning of the game to this point.
The Mustang bats threw a five spot on the board in the sixth on three hits with most of the damage coming off a bases clearing triple. DWU didn't answer back this time around in the bottom half leaving it at 15-5 through six. SMSU bats were kept at bay in the seventh while the Tiger bats kept the game alive plating four runs in the inning. All four runs came with two outs and had two strikes on the DWU batters. It was the standouts again that came up in the clutch with Kitchens and Meyers delivering the hits. Through seven frames the Tigers faced a 15-9 deficit. Dakota Wesleyan couldn't get anything else going on the offensive side and surrendered two more runs for a 17-9 final.
Head-to-Head (SMSU Mustangs):
- Dakota Wesleyan is now 2-5 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State after today's loss.
Up Next: The Dakota Wesleyan Baseball team returns to the diamond tomorrow March 7th, when they take on Bethany Lutheran at 10 am.