Home cookin'

Dickinson State's first look at Southside Municipal Ballpark this spring came during its pre-game warm-ups for Monday afternoon's game against Northern State.

It didn't seem to bother the Blue Hawks, however.

They committed no errors behind sophomore pitcher Ryan Crossingham and scattered nine hits en route to a 7-3 nonconference victory in the first game of the doubleheader.

"We were having a hard time in the pre-game, but we got used to it," said DSU junior third baseman Kevin Park, who came up with several nice snags for put outs.

Park also had a beat on the ball at the plate.

His double in the second inning scored a pair of runs and put the Blue Hawks ahead 4-1. He added a sacrifice fly to center field in the fourth to score a run and make it 6-1.

Park also watched what would have been a deep two-run homer in the seventh inning sail just foul over the left-field fence.

"The wind just took it," Park said with a smile.

A breeze out of the southeast kept several possible DSU bombs in the park, but also played a factor in its defensive efforts and helped Crossingham pick up his first win of the season on his second start.

Crossingham forced numerous pop outs and fly balls with his curveball.

"The curveball was spiking, so I threw that a lot," Crossingham said.

Northern State's lone offense came on a pair of home runs -- on fastballs.

Lucas Jung had a solo homer in the first inning and Michael Cross had a two-run shot in the sixth. Both cleared the left-field fence.

DSU, meahwhile, spread out its offense.

Park's two-run double was part of a three-run second inning.

Tury Escobedo had an RBI single in the first, Laim Foran had RBI singles in the second and sixth innings and Derrick Gunderson's base hit in the third scored a run.

"That first game was kind of a story of timely defense and timely hitting for them," Northern State coach Mark Gulseth said.

DSU came into the game averaging 11.6 runs in its past five games and head coach Duane Monlux was impressed with the team's continued ability to put runs on the scoreboard.

"Most games, scoring seven runs gives a team a chance to win," Monlux said. "That's kind our goal to hit every game."

Still, Monlux was happier about the blank spot under the big 'E' on the scoreboard and the 7 under the 'R.'

The Blue Hawks had struggled defensively early in the season.

"Error-free baseball is good," Monlux said. "Our defense was shaky early but it has cleaned up."

NSU 100 002 0 -- 3 5 2

DSU 131 101 x -- 7 9 0

Blaze Hanson, Charlie Dunnick (6) and Brad Rintoul. Ryan Crossingham and Chris Young. W-Crossingham (1-0). L-Hanson. HR-NSU, Michael Cross; Lucas Jung.

Highlights: NSU, Cross 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI; Jung 1-for-3, HR. DSU, Hector Sanchez 2-for-2, 2B; Liam Foran 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Kevin Park 1-for-3, 3 RBI, Nolan Bracken 1-for-2, 2 BB; Tury Escobedo 1-for-3, RBI; Derrick Gunderson 2-for-2, RBI; Crossingham 7 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, 5 H, 3 ER.

DSU 12, Northern State 1

The rookie had confidence in his defense, and they never let him down.

In his first collegiate start, DSU freshman pitcher Ian Anderson threw a no-hitter while walking two and giving up one unearned run as the Blue Hawks' earned their seventh conseuctive victory in Game 2.

"He found a way to get guys out," Monlux said. "No-hitters don't happen very often and they usually don't happen to a freshman in his first start, so that was a fun one."

DSU committed three errors, including one that led to Northern State's only run.

Michael Cross walked and eventually scored when Kade Larson dropped a fly ball in center field.

Outside of that, the Blue Hawks were pretty much perfect.

Anderson faced 21 batter, striking out four and forcing the rest into easy outs.

"It's just finding spots every now and then," Anderson said. "The defense helped me out a lot."

The Blue Hawks gave their pitcher lots of help at the plate too.

Nolan Bracken went 3-for-4 and hit a two-run homer in a five-run fifth inning. Bracken drove in three runs and scored three runs.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Kanzaki ended the game in the sixth inning when his three-run blast to left field invoked the 10-run rule.

Willie Sandez drove in a pair of runs for DSU, which improved to 17-9 overall and visits Jamestown College for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.

"Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the weekend," Monlux said.

NSU 000 100 -- 1 0 0

DSU 001 353 -- 12 15 3

Trent Bestland, Thane Lees (5), Michael Gardner (5) and Kelly Coates. Ian Anderson and Ben Stanbury. W-Anderson (1-0). L-Bestland. HR-DSU, Nolan Bracken; Ryan Kanzaki.

Highlights: DSU, Anderson 6 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; Kade Larson 3-for-3, RBI, 3 runs; Ryan Kanzaki 1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI; Nolan Bracken 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 runs; Mike Nash 2-for-3, RBI, run; Kevin Park 1-for-2, RBI; Willie Sandez 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Ben Stanbury 2-for-2; Liam Foran 1-for-3, 2B, run.