ABERDEEN, S.D. – A Matt Bezdicek RBI double, 1-of-4 runs for the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball program in the top of the sixth inning and matching the single-season program record for doubles in a season with 16, along with a complete performance by sophomore Logan Davis on the mound propelled Dakota Wesleyan to the dominant, 11-1 road victory over in-state foe Presentation College on Tuesday evening from Fossum Field in Aberdeen, S.D.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dakota Wesleyan, in its final non-conference tilt of the 2022 campaign, came out of the gates swinging beginning in the top half of the first frame. Cameron Quigley and Bradley Skorczewski reached while DWU infielder Luke LeMay capitalized with one swing of the bat, and the Tigers (14-26) worked the initial 2-0 lead. Caleb Crist and Ryan McGinnis also reached via base-on balls while the Blue and Gray hitters tallied 10 walks in the outing and registered a three-run benefit.
Logan Davis, the sophomore righthanded pitcher from Omaha, Neb., meanwhile settled into a nice groove on the mound for Dakota Wesleyan. Davis and the Tigers utilized a lineout double play to retire Presentation in the bottom of the first frame while consecutive strikeouts across the second and third frames held PC in check offensively. The Saints (5-39) managed just one hit through the first three innings while Skorczewski and LeMay scorched back-to-back knocks in the top of the fourth stanza to preserve the 4-0 start.
Presentation answered with its only run of the affair with a baserunner plated in the bottom of the fourth inning, though DWU stole the momentum with a game-high four runs produced in the sixth inning. Kalub Carmichael notched an RBI single with the bases juiced, and Bezdicek, the senior from Plymouth, Minn., smashed a double to left field. With the extra-base poke, the 6-foot-4 righthanded batter matched Thomas Gulledge's single-season record for doubles in a season with 16 set during the 2005 campaign.
A routine groundout executed by second baseman Crist along with a punchout by Davis, 1-of-3 strikeouts for the Omaha North Magnet High School product, ended Presentation's bottom half of the sixth stanza. Offensively, head coach Charlie Dubanoski and the Dakota Wesleyan hitters poured on three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. LeMay commenced the final trip through order with his fourth hit of the evening while Carmichael launched an RBI double to left field.
The Saints added one knock in their final at-bat, however; Davis and the Blue and Gay concluded the 11-1 victory and series sweep of Presentation thanks to a lineout snagged by Trayven Boellstorff. DWU raked in 12 hits in the box while LeMay went 4-for-5 at the plate. Carmichael and Crist also chipped in a combined five RBI.
UP NEXT
LeMay and the Tigers entertain Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) foe University of Jamestown in a crucial, four-game swing set for Friday and Saturday as Dakota Wesleyan celebrates senior-day festivities from Drake Field in Mitchell, S.D. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. on Friday with game two to follow.