Portner's grand slam helps DSU steal win over Valley City State
DICKINSON, N.D. (DAKOTA STATE) — No. 5 seed Dakota State (S.D.) erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning to defeat No. 8 seed Valley City State (N.D.) 5-4 on Friday morning in the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament elimination bracket at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
With the win, the Trojans improved to 25-23 on the season, while the Vikings ended their year at 20-32.
Trailing 4-1 entering their final at-bat, DSU mounted a four-run rally capped by Dawson Portner's go-ahead grand slam to center field. The senior third baseman came through after the Trojans loaded the bases with back-to-back hit-by-pitches and a pinch-hit infield single.
The dramatic finish backed a strong relief outing from Sam Tyrpa (W, 5-6), who earned the win with 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Tyrpa allowed just two hits, struck out seven and did not issue a walk, facing the minimum over his final two frames to preserve the lead. He extended his all-time DSU school record of 259 strikeouts, previously held by Nicholai Arbach briefly who had 254 career strikeouts after Friday's game.
VCSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Kaden Rozdeba singled with two outs, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a sharp single through the left side by Alexis Velasco to give the Vikings a 1-0 advantage.
Dakota State tied the game in the fourth when Ben Loos homered to center with two outs, his first long ball of the postseason and his collegiate career. Loos finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Vikings responded with a three-run fifth inning. Diesel Goya was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and stole second. With one out and two runners on, Porter Jorgenson delivered the biggest hit of the day for Valley City State—a three-run double to the left-center gap that cleared the bases and extended the lead to 4-1.
Jorgenson went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk, while Rozdeba reached base three times and scored twice.
DSU managed just five hits through the first eight innings off Valley City State starter Takao Cookson, who struck out eight in 7 1/3 innings. He exited with one out in the eighth, and the Vikings turned to freshman left-hander Connor Martin. Martin (L, 0-6) after allowing both inherited runners to reach and surrendering Portner's decisive homer.
The Trojans' ninth-inning dramatic rally began with a hit-by-pitch to Cassidy Watt, followed by another hit batter—Camaron Haller—putting two aboard with no outs. After a flyout, Loos struck out looking for the second out. Seth Altwine entered as a pinch hitter and legged out an infield single to keep the inning alive and load the bases. Portner followed with the game-winning blast.
On the mound, Alex Swack started for Dakota State and allowed four earned runs on three hits and five walks over 4 1/3 innings. He exited in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Tyrpa entered and retired the next two batters, limiting further damage and keeping the Trojans within striking distance.
Offensively, Aidan Perry paced the Trojans with a 2-for-3 day and reached base three times. Altwine and Camaron Raney each added a hit, while Michael Buchmann (courtesy runner for Watt) and Raney scored key runs in the ninth.
Defensively, the Trojans played solidly behind their pitching staff, committing just one error. The Vikings turned two double plays in the loss and got an error-free effort from their fielders.
DSU awaits the loser of the winner's bracket game between No. 7 seed Mayville State (N.D.) and No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.), which is played Friday evening at 8 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (MT). The Trojans' second elimination game of the NSAA tournament is slated for 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time).
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