DWU sweeps Dordt in GPAC doubleheader

• Erik Nockleby

(Kevin Pottebaum/Republic) Dakota Wesleyan’s Erik Nockleby, left, slides in for a triple as Dordt third baseman Jon Holwerda tries to get him out during a Great Plains Athletic Conference game Thursday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.

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The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team locked up a spot in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason tournament with a doubleheader sweep over Dordt Thursday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.

The Tigers took the first game 7-1 and followed that up with a 5-1 win in the team’s final home game of the season.

Head coach Steve Gust credited his starting pitching as the main aspect to the success on Thursday.

“Our starting pitchers were very good,” he said. “Those guys really stepped up their games. This is like playoff baseball already and our pitchers threw accordingly.”

Nick Pecha took the mound in the opener and pitched all seven innings. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out six.

Chris Housley got the start in game two and allowed two hits through five innings, while striking out four.

“He was in control all day,” Gust said.

Housley, who normally comes out of the bullpen, was taken out after five innings with the idea that he would be available to throw if necessary in the team’s doubleheader against Mount Marty on Saturday.

Gust said the team was not hitting the ball very well Thursday, but the Tigers found ways to advance runners. Dakota Wesleyan tallied eight stolen bases in the two games, including three by Maximum Shower in the first game.

“We executed well and that got us runs,” Gust said. “It’s a good sign when we’re not on our ‘A’ game but we’re still scoring runs.”

The Tigers (22-29, 10-8 GPAC) are on a four-game win streak and finish their regular season Saturday when they travel to Yankton for a doubleheader against Mount Marty.

The GPAC tournament is May 3-5 in Lincoln, Neb. If the team wins the tournament, they would qualify for the NAIA national championship tournament.

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