MITCHELL, S.D. – With moisture in the air and rain in the forecast, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball program executed a 7-6 home victory over conference challenger University of Jamestown in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action on Friday morning from Drake Field in Mitchell, S.D. Righthanded ace Jacob Glovich sparked Dakota Wesleyan with six efficient innings on the mound while the Blue and Gray followed suit offensively for the win to conclude the 2022 campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Glovich, the native of Sioux Falls, retired the Jamestown batters in order across the first frame including a strikeout to end the opening inning. UJ outfielder Tayler Cullen meanwhile continued his hot hitting in the series for the Jimmies (26-22, 15-12 GPAC) with a 2-run homerun in top of the second stanza, and the visitors claimed the 3-0 start through 2.5 stanzas. Offensively, UJ raked in four extra-base knocks including multiple long shots off the swing of Cullen.
The DWU offense awakened in the bottom of the third inning beginning with a lead-off double down the left field line by Tiger (15-28, 8-19 GPAC) infielder Seth Christiansen. Fellow Dakota Wesleyan infielder Caleb Crist plated Christiansen with an RBI single, 1-of-8 pokes for Dakota Wesleyan at the plate. Wyatt Hunt and Carter Gullickson also scored runs in the stanza, and head coach Charlie Dubanoski and company entertained the 4-3 benefit.
Three Jamestown hitters reached across the fourth and fifth stanzas, though Glovich and the DWU defense clamped down and escaped unharmed. Kyler Halverson and Cameron Quigley handled well-struck balls to the outfield to end the fourth inning while DWU freshman Michael Zeman retired the final out of the fifth inning with a nice throw to retire Cullen. In spite of a 2-out poke by Gullickson, Dakota Wesleyan carried the 4-3 advantage into the sixth frame.
Offensively, the Blue and Gray registered three insurance runs in its final at-bat through the bottom of the sixth stanza. Matt Bezdicek kept the line moving with a hit-by-pitch to keep the bases loaded, and Halverson hit a well-struck ball past the UJ second baseman. Down to its final three outs, the Jimmies trailed 7-3.
Troy Wilhelm took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning and worked a quick flyout to Gullickson in right field. Though, Jamestown attempted a late comeback and failed to go down quietly with three final runs in the stanza. A final punchout, however; ended the contest as the rain steadily fell, and DWU rounded out its final regular-season outing in winning fashion, 7-6.
UP NEXT
Dubanoski and the Tigers conclude the 2022 season with an overall record of 15-28, mirrored by an 8-19 mark in league play.