Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports and Marketing Information Director
Bellevue, Neb. – Dickinson State dropped both games of a North Star Athletic Association doubleheader against Bellevue on April 7 at Brown Park in Omaha, Neb. The Blue Hawks came up just short in a 6-5 loss in Game 1, then fell 12-2 in seven innings in the second contest.
In the opener, Dickinson State (11-22, 3-5 NSAA) erased a two-run deficit in the sixth inning with a three-run home run from Ty Farwell but gave up a two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh to drop the series opener.
Luis Rodriguez walked, Moses Dokes singled, and Tyson Threadgill added a walk to load the bases with one out in the sixth. Farwell entered as a pinch hitter and delivered a go-ahead three-run home run to right, putting Dickinson State in front 5-4.
Bellevue (23-11, 8-0 NSAA) responded in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt, and a two-run home run by Grant to secure the win.
Dickinson State scored its first run in the second inning on an RBI double by Logan Braaten. The Blue Hawks tied the game at 2-2 in the third when Rodriguez singled home Jadyn Roberts. Rodriguez finished 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Dokes reached base three times and scored once. Braaten and Roberts each added a hit and a run.
Threadgill reached base three times and scored a run. Erickson walked twice and caught all six innings before being pinch-ran for twice by Nathaniel Jilek.
Tate Williams made the start and allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits over 5.1 innings with six strikeouts. Patrick Dietz (0-3) took the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings.
In Game 2, Bellevue built an early lead and pulled away late, scoring in five of six innings and finishing the game with a four-run seventh to close out the run-rule win.
Wyatt Wilharm provided the lone extra-base hit for Dickinson State, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the sixth. Erickson went 3-for-3, and Farwell added a 2-for-3 day with a run scored. The Blue Hawks were held to two runs on eight hits and struck out nine times.
Bellevue scored twice in the first and broke the game open with a four-run third. The Bruins capitalized on a pair of hit batters and singles from Tanner, Makarus, and Buckmaster to take a 6-0 lead. A triple by Lacey in the fourth and an RBI single by Townsend in the fifth made it 8-2 after six.
Farwell singled in the fifth and later scored on an error to put Dickinson State on the board. Wilharm's solo homer in the sixth cut into the deficit, but Bellevue answered with five hits and four runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a three-run double by Buckmaster and an RBI single from Hansen.
Trent Richter (3-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks in three innings. Noah Aliff, Anthony Hanson, Carlos Molina Jr., and Trent Chavez each pitched in relief, combining to allow six runs on nine hits over the final 3.1 innings.
The Blue Hawks left four runners on base and committed two errors. Bellevue finished with 14 hits and 11 RBIs, remaining unbeaten in conference play.
