JAMESTOWN -- The Dickinson State baseball team's playoff hopes came to an end after a pair of heartbreaking defeats.
On Wednesday, the Blue Hawks were tagged with a 3-1 loss against Jamestown.
But, Thursday's loss was a tougher pill to swallow.
Valley City State's Joey Demers hit a game-winning single to score Colin Waldler to defeat DSU 7-6 in a Frontier-Independent Conference Tournament loser out game at Jack Brown Stadium.
"Our guys played hard," DSU head coach Jason Watson said. "That's all I really ask. Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way. We just need to think about the goods and the bads from this tournament, this year and get better for it when we start focusing on next year."
ADVERTISEMENT
Bobby King, a senior right-handed pitcher, got the start for the Blue Hawks (25-19). He went eight innings, allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out six. However, four of his six runs were given up in the first two innings.
"Bobby is a competitor, just like Tanner (Newman) -- who went the distance in Wednesday's game against Jamestown," Watson said. "He struggled a little bit early and then he settled into a groove. Those two guys I couldn't ask any more out of. They pitch hard, they compete and we're going to miss them."
Carlos Lopez came on in relief during the ninth inning as the game was tied 6-6. He gave up the game-winning run including one hit after one walk and a strikeout. Ian Anderson tried to come in and close out the frame, but his first batter -- Demers -- ripped his lone hit of the day to score the winning run.
After the Vikings (15-25) took a 4-0 lead, DSU slowly started chipping away. The Blue Hawks scored a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings to knot up the score at 4-4.
"We were down four early and the guys knew we were playing a nine-inning game," Watson said. "They stayed relaxed and got back into it. Baseball is a funny game and when you are for sure playing nine innings, you don't have to tense up so quickly. I was very proud of them on the way they stayed relaxed."
Jordan Tescher, a graduate of Beach High School, ripped a two-run home run -- his fourth of the year and fourth in his last eight games -- in the third inning. Newman scored on the home run after being hit by a pitch in the previous at bat.
In the fifth inning, Chris Mjelstad hit a RBI single scoring Newman. Tescher came in to score after Eric Seiler, a graduate of Dickinson High School, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Each team traded runs and DSU needed one run in the top of the ninth inning to force VCSU to bat.
ADVERTISEMENT
After Jake Coyle and Seiler each reached on a walk, Ryan Risse singled to pitcher's mound. With the bases loaded, Joe Binstock hit a RBI single to right scoring Sam Bisson, who was running for Coyle.
On the mound for the Vikings, Corey Pudas came on in relief for the win. He pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits. Ronnie Blagg started the game for VCSU and pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowed five run and struck out three.
DSU 002 020 101 -- 6 8 2
VCSU 310 010 011 -- 7 12 4
Bobby King, Carlos Lopez (9), Ian Anderson (9) and Ryan Risse. Ronnie Blagg, Corey Pudas () and Josiah Churchill. W-Pudas. L-Lopez. HR-DSU, Jordan Tescher. VCSU, Scott Stephenson.
Highlights: DSU, Tescher 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Chris Mjelstad 3-for-5, 3B, RBI, run; Joe Binstock 2-for-5, RBI; Tanner Newman 1-for-5, 2 runs; Risse 1-for-5; Sam Bisson run. VCSU, Stephenson 4-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Churchill 2-for-3, RBI, run; Brenden Shearer 1-for-2, 2B, RBI; Brady Anderson 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, run; Colin Waldner 1-for-5, RBI, run; Joey Demers 1-for-5, RBI, run; Thomas Houdek 1-for-4, run; Mike Gershman 1-for-4.
Records: DSU 25-19, VCSU 15-25
