DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) opened the 2025 North Star Athletic Association Baseball Championship in dominant fashion with a 17-5 victory over La Sierra (Calif.) in seven innings Thursday evening at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
The Blue Hawks pounded out 15 hits and scored in six of seven frames, including a game-breaking five-run sixth and a four-run seventh to seal the run-rule win in their tournament opener of the NSAA double-elimination bracket.
Junior Luis Rodriguez led the offensive outburst with two home runs and six RBIs, including a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to end the contest. Rodriguez reached base in all five plate appearances, adding a walk and two runs scored to his totals.
Dickinson State struck early, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sawyer Bryner led off with a single and scored the game's first run. Jace Buchanan and Wyatt Wilharm followed with run-scoring hits, and Jadyn Roberts added an RBI single to cap the inning.
The Blue Hawks built their lead with two runs in the second. Buchanan doubled in a run, and Wilharm delivered an RBI single to push the advantage to 5-0. Rodriguez then added a solo home run in the third to make it 6-0.
La Sierra (Cal Pac) broke through in the fourth when Stephen Chavez drove in Matthew Pontes with a single to center. The Golden Eagles trimmed the deficit to 6-1, but Dickinson State quickly answered.
In the bottom of the fifth, Dickinson State took advantage of a pair of outfield errors to extend the lead. Moses Dokes singled home two unearned runs, scoring Gonzalez and Wilharm to make it 8-1.
La Sierra rallied in the sixth, plating four runs to pull within 8-5. Ethan King delivered the key blow with a bases-clearing double, and Bobby Benavidez followed with an RBI double of his own.
Dickinson State responded with five runs in the home half of the inning. Wilharm launched a solo homer to center to start the scoring. Rodriguez walked, Roberts singled home a run, and Dokes crushed a three-run homer to left field, giving the Blue Hawks a 13-5 cushion.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dickinson State loaded the bases with one out. Rodriguez then delivered his second homer of the game, a walk-off grand slam over the left field fence, ending the game by run rule at 17-5.
Wilharm finished 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Dokes went 2-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs. Buchanan, Roberts, and Gonzalez Jr. each added two hits in the balanced Blue Hawk attack.
Senior right-hander Jacob Scully tossed a complete game for Dickinson State, scattering nine hits and striking out seven over seven innings. He walked three and hit two batters but stranded nine La Sierra runners.
Kyle Schelling took the loss for La Sierra, allowing six runs on seven hits over three innings. Relievers Jayden Jones and Henry Parada were also tagged for multiple runs in relief, with Parada allowing Rodriguez's game-ending blast.
Benavidez and Pontes paced La Sierra at the plate with two hits apiece, while King drove in three runs and Chavez added an RBI.
