It's back to square one in the Dakota Athletic Conference.
On a weekend where Dickinson State had an opportunity to gain an edge on its opponents, Mayville State kept the conference standings at the status quo.
The Comets built a big lead in the first three innings of Game 1 and held off a DSU comeback, hanging on for a 12-10 victory Sunday at Southside Municipal Ballpark.
Mayville State then made a comeback of its own in Game 2 and handed Blue Hawks pitcher Chase Doremus his first loss of the season, taking a 9-7 win to cap the sweep of the doubleheader and force the four-game series split. DSU won Saturday's games 10-9 and 10-4.
"I think it's undeniable that all four games were just heavyweight bouts," Mayville State coach Scott Berry said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mayville State (22-18, 10-6 DAC) took a 7-1 lead after three innings in the first game, opening the first with three RBI singles.
In the third, Dan Silva hit a two-run single to deep right center field and eventually scored on a wild pitch by DSU junior Robert Gonzalez, who took the loss and fell to 4-2.
Kevin Park and Willie Sandez began sparking a DSU (26-14, 11-3 DAC) comeback in the fourth with homers.
Park had a two-run bomb after Nolan Bracken led off the inning with a walk and Sandez hit a solo homer, his sixth solo shot of the series.
Sandez added a two-run double in the seventh inning to cut Mayville State's lead to 9-7, but the Comets weren't done yet.
"We were in there," Sandez said. "We were giving a fight."
Jake McLain and Silva had back-to-back RBI singles to give Mayville State some breathing room and a 12-7 lead in the eighth.
DSU left fielder Liam Foran blasted a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the eight and Park led off the ninth with a solo home run to cut the Comets' lead to two.
ADVERTISEMENT
With two runners in scoring position, DSU catcher Chris Young lined into a 5-3 double play to end the game.
"A lot of our rallies seemed to start with two outs and nobody on," DSU head coach Duane Monlux said.
DSU looked like it would take control of Game 2 when Derrick Gunderson's two-run double sparked a four-run second inning that gave DSU a 4-1 lead.
But, the Comets climbed back in the fourth when Scott Kuzyk hit a two-run double to right field and pinch-hitter James Olderbak scored by stealing home on a double-steal play.
Doremus threw a wild pitch in the fifth that scored McLain and gave up a two-run double to Taylor Fuhs that put Mayville State ahead 7-4.
Mike Nash hit two solo home runs, one to lead off the fifth inning and another with one out in the seventh. But the Blue Hawks again squandered an opportunity to score with runners aboard and the game on the line.
Mayville State closer Josh Drews struck out pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez, representing the tying run, to end the game.
Comets starter Nick Bata faced all but two batters in the seven-inning game. He walked eight, struck out just one, allowed eight hits and five earned runs but still walked away with the win.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We fought at the end, but our execution early in that game was really bad," Monlux said.
It ended up being a wash in terms of the DAC as neither DSU nor Mayville State were able to gain a leg up in the tight conference race.
The Blue Hawks still hold a half-game lead over Mayville State as well as Dakota State and Jamestown College, who also split a four-game series.
DSU goes to Dakota State (20-16, 10-6 DAC) for a four-game series Friday and Saturday.
"I think there's four teams that are very evenly matched," Monlux said. "It's coming down to the last weekend. We had a chance to separate ourselves and didn't do it."
MSU 304 002 030 -- 12 13 1
DSU 010 300 321 -- 10 15 1
Andy Stone, Sheldon Jones (5) and Spencer Braun, Billy Tomblin (5). Roberto Gonzalez, Tucker Slagle (4) and Chris Young. W-Jones. L-Gonzalez (4-2).
ADVERTISEMENT
Highlights: MSU, Derek Howerton 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Dan Silva 3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 runs; Jake McLain 2-for-3, 2B, 3 runs, RBI; Taylor Fuhs 2-for-5, RBI, run; Alex Berry 1-for-2, RBI, 2 runs. DSU, Willie Sandez 3-for-3, 2 HR, 2B, 4 RBI; Kevin Park 4-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs; Mike Nash 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, run; Nolan Bracken 1-for-3, 2 runs; Liam Foran 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI; Chris Young 1-for-4, 2B; Cole Zamira 2-for-4, 2B.
MSU 010 332 0 -- 7 10 3
DSU 040 010 2 -- 9 9 2
Nick Bata, Josh Drews (7) and Spencer Braun, Billy Tomblin (4). Chase Doremus, Andrew Grafton (6) and Chris Young. W-Bata. L-Doremus (4-1). S-Drews.
Highlights: MSU, Mark Kuzyk 2-for-4, 2 RBI; Zach Schaefer 1-for-3, 2 RBI, run; Taylor Fuhs 3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI. DSU, Mike Nash 2-for-4, 2 HR; Liam Foran 1-for-2, RBI; Derrick Gunderson 1-for-2, RBI, run; Chris Young 1-for-2, RBI; Willie Sandez 1-for-1, 2B; Liam Foran 1-for-2, 2B, RBI.
