Tuesday, October 11, 2011

2012 Schedule

The 2012 has now unofficially been announced for the 2012 season. The schedule is not final, and as always with spring schedules, will undoubtably change. However, this gives Tiger baseball fans a sneak peek at the upcoming schedule.

Dakota Wesleyan University - 2012 Baseball Schedule
Date Opponent Site Time
Feb. 17 Dickinson State (DH) Metrodome 12/2 pm
Feb. 18 Dickinson State (DH) Metrodome 7:30/9:30 am
Feb. 24 Sterling College(DH) Sterling, KS 12/2 pm
Feb. 25 Sterling College(DH) Sterling, KS 12/2 pm
Feb. 26 Bethany College (DH) Bethany, KS 12/2 pm
March 3 Missouri Valley College (DH) MV 1/3 pm
March 4 Missouri Valley College (9) MV 1 pm
March 9-18 Spring Break (10 games) Mesa, AZ TBA
March 22 Dakota State (DH) Madison, SD 2/4 pm
March 24 Northwestern (IA) (DH) Metrodome 7/9 a
March 28 Mayville State (DH) Mitchell, SD 1/3 pm
March 31 Nebraska Wesleyan (DH)* Lincoln, NE 1/3 pm
April 1 Concorida (DH)* Crete, NE 1pm/3pm
April 3 Jamestown College (DH) Mitchell, SD 1pm/3pm
April 5 Briar Cliff (DH)* Sioux City, IA 1pm/3pm
April 7 Morningside (DH)* Mitchell, SD 1pm/3pm
April 10 GPAC MAKUP Date TBA TBA
April 13 Northwestern (DH)* Orange City, IA 1/3 pm
April 15 Midland Lutheran (DH)* Mitchell, SD 1pm/3 pm
April 18 North Dakota State Fargo, ND 4 pm
April 19 Dakota State (DH) Mitchell, SD 5/7 pm
April 21 Doane (DH)* Mitchell, SD 1/3 pm
April 22 Hastings (DH)* Mitchell, SD 1pm/3pm
April 24 Concordia College (Moorhead) (DH) Fargo, ND 1/3 pm
April 26 Dordt (DH)* Mitchell, SD 4/6 pm
April 28 Mount Marty (DH)* Yankton, SD 4/6 pm
May 3-5 GPAC Tournament Lincoln, NE TBA
May 16-19 NAIA National Championships TBA TBA
May 29-June 2 NAIA World Series Lewiston, ID TBA

*Great Plains Athletic Conference game
(DH) – indicates doubleheader; (9) – indicates nine-inning game
Home Games in BOLD played at Cadwell Park

Schedule subject to change

Pitching, defense leads DWU

Pitching and defense led the DWU baseball team to a 2-1 victory over the Alumni team Friday evening at Drake Field. The game featured some of the best players ever to wear a Tiger uniform. The Alumni team featured more than 22 players including at least two All-American players. At one time during the course of the scrimmage, the Alumni game had nine former GPAC All-Conference players in the line-up.

The game, however, was dominated by the DWU pitchers. They struck out 15 hitters in the 9-inning game and did not walk any. They gave up just five hits. Nick Pecha, Ethan Opsahl, Chris Housley, Zac Turbes, Logan Risse, Josh Wagner and Zac Custer all had strong outings on the mound.

DWU scored both of its runs in the first inning after Stephen Gunnel launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. Gunnel, a sophomore from Colorado, led the offense with two hits. Seven of the nine DWU starters earned at least one hit.

Gunnel, a third baseman, shortstop Michael Lukkason and centerfielder Erik Nockleby all made great defensive plays in the game. A total of two errors were made in the game by the two teams.

"It was a great game by both teams," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "It was great to see so many alumni return for it. The pitching was great on both sides, and the defense was very good, too. It was just a great ball game that will help us as we prepare for the spring."

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Scrimmage yields strong results

The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team showed signs of solid play in Saturday's scrimmage against the South Dakota Amateur All-Stars. The team scored 22 runs in the two games, earning an unofficial split. DWU won the first scrimmage 14-1, while losing the second 11-8.

In scrimmage one, Stephen Gunnel, Kneight Johnson and Sam Schumacher led the offense with three hits apiece. Schumacher, a sophomore, had a single, double and hit a towering home run that hit the right field scoreboard. Gunnel, a sophomore, had two doubles and a single in four at-bats. Johnson, a freshman, added two singles and a double. Kirk McBreen and Michael Lukkason had two hits apiece.

Ethan Opshal looked strong on the mound, earning the pitching win with four scoreless innings. The senior struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. Tyler Johnson and Schyler Bryan pitched the final three innings and gave up just one combined run.

Schumacher continued his hot hitting in scrimmage two. He went 2-for-4 with a walk. Jared Batman added two hits in four plate appearances. The All-Stars blew open a close game with six runs in the sixth inning. Five of the six runs were unearned, coming from four errors.

Joey Fitzgerald had a strong pitching start for DWU. The sophomore pitched three innings and allowed just one hit. He struck out four and walked just two. Chris Housley also had a strong pitching outing and did not give up a run in one and two-thirds of an inning.

The two teams will matchup again Oct. 15 at Drake Field. The double header is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.