Things could have gone a little better last weekend.
Dickinson State could have left fewer players on base. The Blue Hawks could have wrapped up a few games a little more tidy than they chose to do. They dug themselves into a few early deficits.
But they swept Presentation in back-to-back doubleheaders, bringing their record in the North Star Athletic Association to a perfect 4-0.
Things could have been worse.
"Walking away with four wins, you never apologize for four wins," said head coach Jason Watson, whose team opens up a four-game homestand starting this Saturday, all against conference-rival Jamestown. "We've put ourselves in a really good spot, the guys understand that, and they know how big of a weekend this is for us."
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Starting with the Jimmies (21-9, 4-0 NSAA), who DSU plays twice this Saturday and twice this Sunday, the Blue Hawks nestle into the next month of baseball with some consistency that was missing in previous weeks.
Every weekend until the end of the year will have two conference doubleheaders with no games sandwiched in between.
Not something that happened by choice, said Watson; it's more a result of some unfortunate geography, but since that's the way it is, he said, they might as well use it to their advantage.
"It allows us to regroup as far as body wise, mentality, allows us time to prepare for the upcoming weekend," he said. "A lot of guys play every inning, it takes a toll on their body and obviously pitching, with arms, that helps."
A reliable arm
Senior Sean Getchell had his name all over the statbook last weekend in Aberdeen, S.D.
The southpaw injured his lat muscle during the Blue Hawks' trip to Florida, which helped rule him out as a starter as of late, but he appeared in three of four against the Saints, going four innings in all for a spotless ERA. He picked up two saves and a win; it would have been three saves, but a muffed fly ball and a late blown lead helped him turn a blown save into a victory, his third of the year.
He's appeared in 10 games this season, throwing 30.1 innings with a 3.56 ERA.
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"He's a guy that I have faith in, that the team has faith in to close the door when he's in the closing spot," Watson said. "He gives us a good shot on the mound, he's smart as far as baseball goes."
Watson still wasn't sure whether Getchell would see the mound as a starter this weekend against Jamestown, which beat DSU twice this season way back in September, but added he could be used again in a closer's role if need be.
Miscellaneous
The Blue Hawks have six batters above the .300 mark, including three-Dylan Skabo, Jacob Cuch and Sagan Osborne-above a .400 average...In 18 games, Skabo has 30 hits in 61 at-bats...Freshman Jalen Lane still leads the team in innings pitched at 46.1...Cuch is third in the NAIA in doubles per game (.538)...The Blue Hawks rank 19th in the NAIA in hits per game (10.462).
