Opsahl strikes out 17, DWU baseball splits doubleheader

• Ethan Opsahl

(Claire Meador/Republic) Dakota Wesleyan University’s Ethan Opsahl throws a pitch during a game against Hastings on Sunday at Cadwell Park.

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Dakota Wesleyan University pitcher Ethan Opsahl tied the school record of 17 strikeouts in a game as the Tigers split their doubleheader with Hastings on Sunday at Cadwell Park.

Hastings took the first game 3-1 and DWU won the second game 2-0.

Opsahl tied the school record during the second game; he threw a 1-hitter, gave up one walk and allowed three base runners.

“He was just ready to go,” head coach Steve Gust said about Opsahl’s pitching performance.

“We really pitched well and played really good defense and when you do those two things you win a lot of games.”

In the first game, Anthony Pakutka scored DWU’s sole run. Maximum Shower, Kirk McBreen, Chris Ciatti and Michael Lukkason each had hits for the Tigers.

Jon Holsworth and Toby Kaplan each scored runs for the Tigers in the second game.

DWU also played on Saturday and split its doubleheader with Doane. Doane leads the Great Plains Athletic Conference with a record of 12-3.

DWU won the first game 2-1 and lost the second 4-3.

“It gives us a lot of conference for our upcoming games,” Gust said about the split with Doane.

“It really proved to the guys that we can play right up there with the best.”

Stephen Gunnell and Holsworth each scored one run for the Tigers during the first game against Doane.

Sam Schumacher, Gunnell, Holswroth and Toby Kaplan all had hits for DWU.

In the second game, Shower scored two runs and McBreen had one run.

“To go 2-2 this weekend was pretty significant for us,” Gust said. “We’re right in the middle of the race so we just have to move forward from here and keep playing well.”

DWU is now 19-29 overall and 8-8 in the GPAC. The Tigers are back in action Tuesday when they take on Concordia College Moorhead in Fargo, N.D. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

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