MITCHELL, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan Baseball hosted the Concordia (Neb.) Bulldogs for a GPAC doubleheader at Drake Field as the program celebrated senior day.
The Tigers started game one with an offensive burst, as Talan Ball recorded a double to left field that cleared the bases, set up by a defensive error, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead over one of the conference's top squads. On the mound, Alex Mizsak did a good job in the first couple of frames, limiting Concordia's opportunities, and the senior recorded two strikeouts in 4.2 total innings pitched. The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the third following an RBI single to bring the score to 3-1, but the Tigers extended it the following frame after Ball would hit a triple to center field, recording his fourth and fifth RBIs of the game, to bring the score to 5-1. Concordia would offensively get settled in and put up a handful of runs in the next innings, with multiple home runs, well-placed hits, and bases-loaded situations quickly giving CUNE the advantage, taking a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. Lane Darrow got the Tigers back within striking distance with a two-RBI single, but Concordia was able to take advantage of the final two innings to keep DWU out of reach, as the Tigers would fall 11-6. The first four batters of the Tiger lineup, Darrow, Caleb Meyers, Kelbee Woodham, and Dexter Payne, all recorded two hits during the first game along with Ball, but runners left on base would keep DWU from fully getting back into the contest down the stretch. Lucas Koepsell would record two strikeouts in relief but would be tabbed with the loss on the mound.
Both offenses were warmed up by game two, with Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan combining for seven runs in the first two innings of the second contest. The Bulldogs opened the game with a two-run home run to right field, but Ball recorded his sixth RBI of the day on a single through the left side of the infield in response, setting the score to 2-1 in favor of CUNE. Concordia's lead quickly grew, however, as more doubles resulted in three runs in the top of the second, and while Dakota Wesleyan was able to inch the score back to 5-3 with a single from Joe Tharaldson and a home run from Jackson Jarding. Another home run and sacrifice fly gave the Bulldogs three more runs before Jarding hit another home run in his second-straight at-bat, this time a three-run shot, to bring the Tigers back within two runs, 8-6. While the Tigers continued to scrap with the nationally-recognized Bulldogs, Shane Cowan and Ean Laird would record hits during the game. At the same time, C. Meyers would tally seven strikeouts on the mound while also contributing a hit of his own in the batting order. However, it was still not enough to catch back up to the Bulldogs, as they expanded the lead to 12-6 to take the win over Dakota Wesleyan. The Tigers move to 17-24 on the season and sit at 8-16 in GPAC play.
DWU Baseball will be back in action on the road for the conclusion of the regular season against Mount Marty on Friday, April 24th, and Saturday, April 25th. See the full 2026 schedule here.