TUCSON, Ariz. – The Dickinson State University (DSU) baseball team opened their 2022 North Star Conference slate in sunny, Arizona on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Hawks took on the Vikings of Valley City State University (VCSU) and fell 15-4 and 2-1 to start conference play 0-2.
Game One: Dickinson State 4, Valley City State University 15
With one out, Cade Ostenson connected on a line drive to right field for the first hit of the game. After a single by Derrick Calvillo to advance Ostenson, Dawson Cortese sacrificed to right field to score Ostenson for the early 1-0 lead.
However, the Vikings went on a 9-0 streak in the following two innings for the 9-1 lead. After a scoreless third inning, the Vikings continued their offensive pressure – putting up another three runs in the fourth inning to push their lead up to 12 (13-1).
In the top of the fifth inning, Calvillo and Cortese connected for back-to-back singles to put Calvillo into scoring position. On the next at-bat, Mathias Dufner reached base on an error by third baseman for the unearned run to cut the Viking lead to 11. Once again, the Vikings responded with a three-run inning to add onto their commanding lead.
The final two runs for Dickinson State came off the bats of Maximus Anderson and Robert Encinas in the seventh inning.
From the Box Score –
Derrick Calvillo and Robert Encinas led the team with two hits each. Teammates Cade Ostenson, Dawson Cortese, Richie Cortese and Maximus Anderson added the final four hits of the game – with Anderson notching the lone extra-base hit with a double.
From the mound, Jacob Scully suffered the loss after letting up nine runs (7ER) off six hits in 1.1 innings pitched. John Koronka and Jose Torres aided the pitching staff for the final four innings and combined for six runs (3ER) off 11 hits in 26 batters faced.
Game Two: Dickinson State 1, Valley City State 2 – 8-innings
Game two came down to a pitching dual between the North Star teams in sunny, Arizona. Both teams remained scoreless during the first three innings until the bottom of the fourth when the Vikings tagged on a run for the 1-0 lead. The Blue Hawks evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally. Cade Ostenson, with two outs, reached base on a hit-by-pitch and moved into scoring position after a passed ball. Derrick Calvillo showed up big with an RBI single to right field to even the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the game would move into extra-innings. However, the Vikings held the Blue Hawk offense to a three-and-out and ended up scoring on a single to center field for the 2-1 win.
From the Box Score –
The Blue Hawks tallied four hits in the loss with Derrick Calvillo leading the way with two. Jacob Clinton and Cade Ostenson rounded out the final two hits, while Calvillo notched the lone RBI in the loss.
From the mound, Brannan Hogan took the loss as he let up two runs – with one earned – off five hits, in 7.1 innings pitched. Hogan added eight strikeouts and let up just one walk in the loss.
