Hawks, Comets to play for No. 1 seed

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MAYVILLE — Mayville State has backed Dickinson State against a wall with the Dakota Athletic Conference regular-season baseball championship on the line.

Joe Ferreira’s two-run double to right field in the fifth inning gave the Comets a 5-3 victory over the Blue Hawks on Saturday afternoon and a rainout will force the teams to complete the doubleheader at noon today at Scott Berry Field, weather permitting.

“The conference has to be won on the field,” DSU head coach Andy Emard said. “That’s my opinion and I think that’s where (Mayville State coach) Berry is at too. We’re going to do everything in our power to get it in.”

The game will be moved to Monday if weather keeps the teams from playing today.

The winner will claim the regular-season conference title and have the No. 1 seed in this week’s tournament, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Southside Municipal Ballpark in Dickinson.

Emard said Blue Hawks (21-12, 13-4 DAC) will need a better performance today if they want to win the title.

“I wasn’t real impressed with our approach at the plate,” Emard said. “Of course we were prepared. It was just a matter of focus and our approach at the game.”

DSU scored a run in the first three innings to keep the game close.

Senior first baseman Chase Doremus had RBI singles in the first and third for the Blue Hawks. He tied the game 3-3 on a one-out single to left center that scored Derrick Gunderson.

After Mayville State left fielder Jake McLain tied the game 1-1 on a wild throw in the first inning, Tanner Carpenter put the Comets (24-11, 14-5 DAC) ahead with an RBI single and Dan Bauer added an RBI double on the next at bat.

The game stayed tied until Ferreira added his go-ahead double.

“There were plenty of opportunities where we had chances,” Emard said.

The coach said he plans to start C.J. Ketron on the mound if the teams play today.

Ketron is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in 18 innings this season and hasn’t pitched since April 14 in a loss to Minot State.

“We’ve got all the faith in the world in him,” Emard said.

DSU 111 000 0 — 3 4 2

MSU 300 020 x — 5 7 0

Bobby Santoyo and Logan Capp. Sam Hirchert, Josh Drews (5) and Billy Tomblin. W– Drews. L–Santoyo. HR–None.

Highlights: DSU, Derrick Gunderson 1-for-2, 2 runs; Chase Doremus 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Liam Foran 0-for-2, RBI; Kevin Park 1-for-1, run; Santoyo CG, 3 K, 4BB, 7 H, 3 ER. MSU, Joe Ferreira 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Dan Bauer 1-for-3, RBI; Tanner Carpenter 2-for-2, RBI, run; Sam Hirchert 4 IP, 3 K, 2 BB, 3 ER, 4 H.

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