Dickinson State senior Brock Overbo made the most of his first collegiate start.
The right-handed starter threw five scoreless innings and struck out three to help the Blue Hawks snap a nine-game losing streak.
Overbo’s solid start led the Blue Hawks past the University of Jamestown 3-0 to salvage a split on Saturday at Southside Municipal Ballpark and Astoria Field. The Jimmies won the opener 8-2.
“Coach (Jason Watson) gave me a great opportunity, I just came out and my team backed me up all day,” Overbo said. “Coach told us before the game that we had to focus in and the whole team did the entire day.”
DSU’s bats helped its starting pitcher in the bottom of the first inning. The Blue Hawks posted two runs after Eric Contreras and Ryan Risse each hit RBI singles.
Overbo said once the Blue Hawks scratched across the first runs it was smooth sailing from there.
“I settled in right away,” Overbo said. “It just felt right.”
Jamestown used five pitchers in the second game. The Jimmies’ starting pitcher Kyle McKay lasted just two outs in the first inning. He gave up two runs on three hits and walked three.
The Blue Hawks scratched across their third run in the fourth. Caleb Burgard led off the inning with a triple to deep center and came home on a Jordan Tescher RBI infield single.
“That’s the thing with days like today and the wind is gusting in,” DSU head coach Jason Watson said about the 30 to 40 mph wind gusts. “It’s the team that can scratch a few runs is going to have a good chance, because it is tough to play in these conditions.”
DSU junior Brendan Hardaway pitched a scoreless sixth as he forced Jamestown to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Blue Hawks called upon senior left-hander Ian Anderson to close out the game. In his last relief appearance at home, Anderson was tagged with the loss against the University of Mary when gave up a hit and walked three batters. The senior didn’t waste any time with the Jimmies has needed 11 pitches for a three-up, three-down inning.
“No one wants to go out and have an outing like that,” Anderson said about his relief appearance against Mary. “Pitchers have to have a short memory and you can’t dwell on the past. You have to come out and do what you have to do to help your team win the game.”
In the opening game, the Jimmies piled on a combined seven runs in the second and third inning. Jamestown also received a solid pitching performance from Kyle Shaikoski. The senior threw six innings, allowed two runs on six hits and struck out one.
The three runs in the second inning came from a two-run single from Nolan Skowronek and a Marcus Blackmon RBI single.
DSU managed to tack on a run in the bottom of the second inning as Austin Taft drove in Sam Bisson, who was courtesy running for Ryan Risse, on a RBI fielder’s choice.
However, Jamestown responded with four runs which included Mitch Stevens’ two-run triple to deep right field. Spencer Flaten and Blackmon each supplied RBI in the inning.
“We were able to piece together some hits in the game one,” Jamestown head coach Tom Hager said. “We took advantage of few mistakes.”
The Jimmies scored their final run in the fourth inning after Michael Nelson drove home Rudy Strand on a RBI single to center.
DSU’s final run came on a RBI groundout from Jordan Tescher. The junior infielder-outfielder drove home Austin Taft.
The Blue Hawks now prepare for the North Star Athletic Association Tournament which begins May 2 in Valley City.
“That was probably the most complete game, aside from the offense because of the wind, that we’ve played all year,” DSU head coach Jason Watson said. “If we can keep that going into next weekend in the conference tournament, anything is possible. Anybody can win on any given day.”
Anderson added: “We played well from the first pitch all the way until the end. If we are going to that any time of the year, now is the best time to do it.”
UJ 034 100 0 - 8 10 1
DSU 000 000 0 - 2 6 2
Kyle Shaikoski, Grant Mattes (7) and Marcus Blackmon. Eric Seiler and Ryan Risse.
W–Shaikoski. L–Seiler. HR–None.
Highlights: UJ, Nolan Skowronek 1 for 3, 2 RBI, Travis Crumb 2 for 3, run; Spencer Flaten 2 for 4, 2 runs, RBI; Mitch Stevens 1 for 3, 3B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Michael Nelson 1 for 3, RBI; Landon Uetz 1 for 3, run; Marcus Blackmon 1 for 3, 2 RBI, run. DSU, Risse 2 for 3; Chris Mjelstad 1 for 3; Austin Taft 1 for 3, RBI, run; Joe Binstock 1 for 3; Caleb Burgard 1 for 3.
UJ 000 000 0 - 0 3 0
DSU 200 100 x - 3 5 1
Kyle McKay, Ryan Sheely (1), Christian Hackworth (3), Gaige Dunn (5), Ryan Vernon (6) and Nathan Christiuk. Brock Overbo, Brendan Hardaway (6), Ian Anderson (7) and Ryan Risse.
W–Overbo. L–McKay. HR–None.
Highlights: UJ, Dylan Lafrentz 2 for 3, 2B; Travis Crumb 1 for 2. DSU, Overbo 5IP, 3H, 0R, 3K; Caleb Burgard, 2 for 3, 3B, run; Risse 1 for 2, RBI; Jake Coyle 1 for 4, run; Eric Contreras 1 for 3, RBI; Jordan Tescher RBI, run.
