Tigers tied for first with Lancers, Cougars

BLAIR, Neb. — The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team is in a three-way tie for first place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference after sweeping Dana College Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers, who are 30-15 overall and 16-4 in the GPAC, are tied with Mount Marty (30-13, 16-4) and the University of Sioux Falls (27-15, 14-4).

The Lancers have been at the top of the league much of the season, but were swept by Hastings and the Cougars split a doubleheader with Morningside over the weekend.

The three-way tie makes DWU’s last two series of the regular season even more important. The Tigers travel to Sioux Falls to play USF Thursday and take on Mount Marty Saturday in Yankton.

Sunday, it was the Tigers’ pitching that helped them to a big sweep. Phil Johnson gave up two earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in DWU’s 9-2 win to start the doubleheader.

Casey Solem hit a two-run homer to right field for a 2-0 lead in the first inning and Shaun Petersen added another two-run homer in the sixth inning. Mario Mendoza also had a solo homer in the seventh.

Clayton Grimstad finished the first game 3-for-6 with two RBIs and Rolando Sanchez was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Petersen and Nick Loera were each 2-for-4.

Matt Luckey picked up the win in the nightcap. He gave up one run on six hits with no walks and one strikeout to help the Tigers to a 4-1 win.

DWU took advantage of two Viking errors to score three runs and grab a 4-0 lead after the third inning. Grimstad went 2-for-4, Lorea was 2-for-3 and Colin Hacker was 2-for-3.

Dakota Wesleyan is hoping to hold off USF and Mount Marty and win its first regular-season GPAC title since 2005. The Tigers host the GPAC postseason tournament May 6-8 at Cadwell Park.

Tags: sports, tigers, baseball, gpac