Game 2
Peru St.
Game 1
Game 2
Peru St.
Game 1
Peru St.
PERU, Neb. – Despite uncooperative weather, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team picked up three wins over Peru State College (Neb.) over the weekend in Peru, Neb.
The Tigers cruised to victory in the first game Saturday, defeating the Bobcats 11-5. DWU was later forced to play the conclusion of the second game Sunday due to rain, as the Tigers won the matchup 10-6. In the final two games, DWU split with Peru State, winning the first game 10-9 and dropping the finale 7-6 in extra innings.
In the opener, the Tigers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, and later added a run in the second inning and two more in the third. The Bobcats answered with four runs in the bottom of third. The Tigers scored four runs in the fifth to put the game away for good.
DWU saw three players with two hits in the contest. Senior Neil Nagle (Oslo, Minn.) went 2-for-4, with two doubles, Austin Calhoon (Winner, S.D.) added two hits and two runs. Starting catcher Sean Riley (Driggs, Idaho) chipped in two hits and was walked twice.
The Tigers were led by a core of freshman pitchers, as starter Jace Saxon (Harrisburg, S.D.) picked up his second career win on the mound, tossing two and two thirds innings, while giving up three runs on five hits and striking out four. Gavin Reichmuth (Chandler, Ariz.) and Dillon Stadlman (Parkston, S.D.) combined for four and two thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out four Bobcat hitters.
DWU rallied back in Game Two after the Bobcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the third. The Tigers eventually plated a run in the sixth and four runs in the eighth.
Nagle continued his dominant performance at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Senior Cole Wenande also had a multi-hit performance, going 3-for-4. Calhoon and Hartman Katz (Huron, S.D.) added two hits apiece.
Relief pitcher Michal Kinzler (East Grand Forks, Minn.) picked up the win after throwing three innings on two hits, while not giving up a run.
After being down 6-3 in Game Three, the Tigers rallied to hold off the Bobcats. Wenande added two hits and two RBIs in the contest, while Jake Capko (Corvallis, Mont.) went 2-for-5 and Calhoon picked up two more RBIs.
The Tigers closer Will Lutjen (Miller Place, N.Y.) was able to secure the victory after pitching three innings of relief, while giving up two runs on four hits and striking out two batters.
In the final game of the series, Peru State needed extra innings to avoid the sweep. The game was tied at six after five innings, but a run in the 10th sealed the victory for the Bobcats.
Designated hitter Peyton Price (Norfolk, Neb.) went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a double and an RBI. Calhoon and Dominic Sebastiani (San Francisco, Calif.) added two hits in the loss.
Senior outfielder, turned pitcher Jonah Johnson (Kerkhoven, Minn.) was tagged with the loss after tossing three and two thirds innings, giving up a run on four hits while striking out two batters. Dillon Campbell (Ashland, Neb.) made his first career start on the mound, but did not factor into the decision.
The Tigers (9-8) visit Northwestern College in a nonconference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on March 25 in Orange City, Iowa.