LEWISTON, Idaho -- In just its third game of the season, the Dickinson State baseball team pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history.
Pinch-hitter Brandon Loveridge's two-out single to left center field drove in Cody Holland in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday afternoon and lifted the Blue Hawks to a 3-2 victory over No. 1-ranked Lewis-Clark State during the Guardian Tournament at Harris Field.
"It's a big win for us," DSU coach Duane Monlux said. "... We just wanted to come out and play well and see where we're at as a team."
The Blue Hawks (2-1) got a big boost from sophomore relief pitcher Tucker Slagle when he replaced starter Ryan Saunders in the third inning.
Saunders, who threw two strikeouts and allowed an unearned run, left in the third inning with a sore elbow. His departure made way for Slagle, a Williston native who had never pitched in a collegiate varsity game.
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Slagle came in, tossed 4Xc innings and allowed just three hits and one earned run while not walking a batter.
"It's certainly not something I envisioned for him to do," said Monlux, who added he went with Slagle to because, like Saunders, he's a lefty.
DSU senior Tony Isbell came in to relieve Slagle in the eighth inning and struck out two of the five batters he faced. Saunders, Slagle and Isbell combined to allow just four hits. Isbell claimed the win.
His relief performance came alongside a 2-for-4 day at the plate.
Isbell and third baseman Mike Nash both scored on a fielding error by Lewis-Clark State right fielder Kawika Emsley-Pai in the fourth inning, putting the Blue Hawks ahead 2-1.
Sean Halton had a homer in the seventh inning to tie the game for the Warriors (5-2).
DSU faces St. Martin's at noon today to cap off its visit to the tournament at the site of the NAIA World Series.
Monlux said even though the win was great for the program, the team cannot be content.
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"We're still a long ways away too," Monlux said. "... There's some things we've really got to polish up on and clean up."
For box score, see Scoreboard on Page B3.
DSU 000 200 001 -- 3 6 4
LCSU 100 000 100 -- 2 4 1
Ryan Saunders, Tucker Slagle (3). Tony Isbell (8) and Chris Young. Tom Peale, Colby Hawk (4). Henry Buenrostro (8), and Bernard Pena.
W-Isbell (1-0). L-Buenrostro (0-2). HR-LCSU, Sean Halton (2).
Highlights: DSU, Isbell 2-for-4, 1 run. Brandon Loveridge 1-for-1, RBI (GW). LCSU, Kawika Emsley-Pai 2-for-3, Halton 1-for-1, 1 RBI, Paul Martin 1-for-1.
Records: DSU (2-1) Lewis-Clark State (5-2).
