Offense pushes DWU past Mustangs

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the second day in a row, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team played a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader against Morningside College as DWU lost, 13-5 in Game One but took Game Two, 10-9 Sunday at Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City, Iowa.

 The Tigers (16-24, 11-11 GPAC) struck first as Branden Oropeza (San Francisco, Calif.) singled to center field, bringing the first run home. Colten Boudreau (St. Clement, Manitoba, Canada) reached on a fielder's choice, bringing home Jared Neilan (Pierre, S.D.) to take the early 2-0 lead.

 DWU plated two runs in the top of the fifth to take the 4-3 lead. The Mustangs (30-19, 15-9 GPAC) added 10 runs in the next two innings to put the Tigers off the scoreboard.

 Tyler Waddle (Huron, S.D.) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and Oropeza finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Dillon Stadlman (Parkston, S.D.) started on the mound and pitched four and two-thirds innings after allowing seven earned run off nine hits and striking out three batters.

 The offense found its groove in the second game as DWU added two runs in the first, second and fourth innings, one in the fifth and three runs in the sixth. The Tigers outscored Morningside to come away with the Game Two win.

 Zach Uttecht (Pierce, Neb.) had one of his best games in a Tiger uniform as he went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and three runs. Peyton Price (Norfolk, Neb.) added 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a double and a run. Patrick Whetham (Garretson, S.D.) took the mound for seven and two-third innings and struck out eight batters while allowing eight earned runs off eight hits to go along with eight strikeouts and four walks. Gavin Reichmuth (Chandler, Ariz.) came in for one-third of an inning after being relieved by Brody Kunzmann (Sioux Falls, S.D.) who pitched one inning allowing a run and striking out a batter to grab the save.

 The Tigers are back in action as they take on Dordt College at 5:30 p.m., today in Sioux Center, Iowa.