Tucson, Ariz. - Dakota Wesleyan swept by D2 SMSU.
Game 1: Dakota Wesleyan 0, Southwest Minnesota State (SMSU) 1
In a hard-fought battle, Dakota Wesleyan fell short to Southwest Minnesota State, losing 1-0 in a pitching duel. Despite the loss, the Tigers put up a strong fight behind their starting pitcher, Alexander Mizsak, who delivered a solid 8-inning performance. Mizsak held SMSU to just one run on six hits, striking out nine and showing great control throughout. His outing kept Dakota Wesleyan in the game, but the Tigers were unable to provide offensive support.
Southwest Minnesota State's pitcher, Ryan Chmielewski, was nearly perfect on the mound, shutting out the Tigers over 8 innings while allowing only 3 hits and striking out 12. Dakota Wesleyan struggled to get their offense going, and despite some good at-bats, they couldn't capitalize on the few opportunities they had. The team's only offense came from Lane Darrow, Caleb Meyers, and Joseph Tharaldson, who each had a hit in the game.
The game's only run came in the 4th inning when SMSU's Henry Hammrich singled and came around to score. Dakota Wesleyan had a few chances to break through, but solid defense and pitching by SMSU shut them down. Although the Tigers couldn't secure the win, Mizsak's stellar performance and the team's grit on defense are positive signs moving forward. With adjustments on offense, Dakota Wesleyan will look to bounce back and build on these strengths in future games.
Game 1: Dakota Wesleyan 1, Southwest Minnesota State (SMSU) 11
In the second game of the day, Dakota Wesleyan faced off against Southwest Minnesota State, but unfortunately, the Tigers were overpowered, losing 11-1. The game was a tough one for Dakota Wesleyan as Southwest Minnesota came out swinging, scoring 3 runs in the first and 3 more in the third to take control early.
Dakota Wesleyan's offense struggled to generate momentum against SMSU's pitching staff, with only Lane Darrow reaching base successfully after drawing a walk and scoring the team's only run in the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Southwest Minnesota's Levi Lampert delivered a monster performance, hitting a home run and driving in 4 RBIs. Chuck Hackett also contributed significantly with a triple and 3 RBIs. The Mustangs' offense continued to fire on all cylinders, adding more runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
On the mound, Dakota Wesleyan's Nathaniel Huisken took the loss, allowing 6 runs in 3 innings, while Andrew Evenson and Statton Corey combined to pitch 3.1 more innings but were unable to stop SMSU's offensive surge. SMSU's Carter Petron earned the win, going 5 strong innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 6. Bennett Knapper closed out the game with 2 scoreless innings to secure the victory for Southwest Minnesota.
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for Dakota Wesleyan. Lane Darrow's patience at the plate was evident, and Mason Riley's defensive play at third base stood out. However, the Tigers struggled with timely hitting and couldn't overcome the offensive juggernaut that SMSU displayed. With a quick turnaround, Dakota Wesleyan will look to regroup and improve as they continue their season in Tucson.
Up Next
The Tigers will finish there time in Tucson with a single matchup against Park-Gilbert (AZ) tomorrow at 5:00p.m. CST.