SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team dropped a two-game series to Briar Cliff University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup that was scheduled for Sunday, but was postponed due to impending poor weather conditions and played Monday at Bishop Muller Field in Sioux City, Iowa.
In game one, the Chargers won in walk-off fashion 5-4, when BCU shortstop Alex Colegrove hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Tigers held a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning of game two, but four runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and three more in the seventh propelled the Chargers to victory 11-9.
The sweep drops DWU to 22-22 overall and 7-9 in the GPAC as the Tigers head down the stretch in the GPAC looking to earn a spot in the conference postseason tournament.
Redshirt junior Tyler Waddle (Huron, S.D.) was the only Tiger with a multi-hit performance in game one, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while senior Austin Calhoon (Winner, S.D.) went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Junior starting pitcher Patrick Whetham (Garretson, S.D.) took the loss on the mound after throwing six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out two.
The Tigers slowly let their eight-run lead disappear in game two, as the home team stormed back thanks to solid performances from the top of its order. Josh Penrod and preseason All-American Scott Morton hit for a combined 7-for-8 with eight RBIs.
Calhoon went 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Waddle, Cole Wenande (Alexandria, S.D.) and Tramane Moore (Los Banjos, Calif.) added two hits apiece.
Will Lutjen (Millers Place, N.Y.) took the loss in game two after tossing three innings, giving up three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two.
The Tigers (22-22, 7-9 GPAC) step out of conference play as they travel to take on Mayville State for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Mayville, N.D.