DICKINSON, N.D. – A seven-run outburst in the second inning propelled third-seeded Dickinson State past seventh-seeded Mayville State, 7-6, Thursday evening in the winner's bracket of the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
The Blue Hawks (20-27 overall) capitalized on early control issues and timely hitting to take command, then relied on strong relief pitching to fend off a persistent Comets rally in the late innings. The win advances Dickinson State into the next round of the NSAA tournament winner's bracket, while Mayville State (15-31) drops into an elimination game.
Dickinson State sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring all seven of its runs. John-Michael Gonzalez Jr. drew a leadoff walk and Luis Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Jadyn Roberts followed with a walk to load the bases before Moses Dokes delivered a two-run single to center, scoring Gonzalez and Rodriguez.
With one out, Ty Farwell added an infield single to keep the rally going. Cameron Erickson worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run. Sawyer Bryner entered as a pinch runner and moved into scoring position when Jace Buchanan laced a two-run single to left. Gonzalez and Rodriguez each followed with RBI singles as Dickinson State capped the inning with six hits and a 7-0 lead.
Mayville State responded with two runs in the third and added two more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-4. In the third, Juan Villarreal walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carson Lundmark. Chris Shopbell, who had reached on a walk, later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jalen Denton.
In the fourth, the Comets added two more on a two-run single from Shopbell, scoring Quinn Pershing and pinch-runner Avery Kirkup to make it 7-4.
Blue Hawk starter Carlos Molina Jr. (1-1) earned the win, working five innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out four and walking three. Trent Richter followed with three innings of relief, allowing two runs and striking out two.
The Comets narrowed the gap to 7-6 in the eighth on a two-run homer to center by Shopbell—his second extra-base hit of the contest—scoring Villarreal, who had singled. That was the final damage Mayville could muster.
Trent Chavez entered in the ninth and worked around a two-out single to record his fourth save of the season, striking out one in a five-batter appearance to close out the win.
Dickinson State totaled six hits in the contest and was led offensively by Dokes, who drove in two runs with a 1-for-4 performance. Buchanan added two RBIs on a second-inning single. Rodriguez reached base three times and recorded an RBI single as well. Gonzalez, who also had an RBI single in the second, finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Mayville State was led at the plate by Shopbell, who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including the two-run home run in the eighth. Villarreal scored twice and added a hit, while Denton and Lundmark each contributed a sacrifice fly.
Derek Palmiere (3-5) took the loss for the Comets, giving up seven earned runs over seven innings with five walks and seven strikeouts. Jack Patten threw two clean innings in relief with one strikeout and no baserunners allowed.
Neither team committed an error in the contest. Dickinson State left four runners on base, while Mayville State stranded ten.
