Dakota Wesleyan University head baseball coach Steve Gust knows that his team isn't the favorite this weekend at the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament.
"If we're going to win, we're going to have to play our best baseball for three days," Gust said. "It's not going to be easy and we're not favored, but we've beaten every team but one in the tournament."
The Tigers come into the GPAC tournament as the No. 4 seed and take on No. 5-seeded Northwestern in the first round at 11:30 a.m. today in Lincoln, Neb. Morningside, the No. 2 seed, is the only team in the GPAC to sweep Dakota Wesleyan in conference play this season.
The team that wins the tournament will earn a berth into the national tournament May 16-19.
"We're just excited to have the opportunity to win a championship," Gust said. "We were picked to finish second to last this season. Getting the four seed is something the guys earned."
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Dakota Wesleyan's top pitcher, Ethan Opsahl, is expected to start on the mound today against Northwestern.
Opsahl allowed one earned run in seven innings in a 5-2 win for the Tigers over the Red Raiders earlier this season.
"He's pitching as well as any pitcher in the league," Gust said of Opsahl, who has a 9-3 record this season with a 3.12 ERA.
Gust said he thinks his team will have to deal with Northwestern's Mike Zoellner on the mound, who allowed three hits in eight innings of a 2-1 Red Raider extra-inning victory over the Tigers on April 13.
Zoellner struck out seven batters in the game.
"We'll need to be more disciplined at the plate," Gust said. "When you get two really good pitchers on the mound, every play is magnified. We're going to need the big hit.'
Gust said he believes his lineup will perform this weekend, pointing out the success of Erik Nockleby and Nick Tadlock throughout the season.
"Those two guys have really stepped up their games," Gust said.
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Nockleby leads the team with a .373 batting average and 35 runs scored, while Tadlock has a team-high six home runs and 35 RBIs.
"Anybody in our lineup can get the job done on any given day," Gust added.
The tournament begins today and runs through Saturday.
Notes: Chris Housley has the lowest ERA for DWU at 2.25. He started the year in the bullpen but has gotten two starts on the mound. ... Gust said Nick Pecha has earned a spot as the No. 2 starting pitcher. "He's pitched pretty well down the stretch," Gust said. ... Mitchell native Jason Schmidt will be competing in his last GPAC tournament with Mount Marty College. The senior shortstop is second in the league with 40 RBIs this season. Last year Schmidt was named GPAC player of the year.
