Tigers sweep Vikings in doubleheader at Drake Field on DWU Faculty Staff Appreciation Day

MITCHELL SD (MITCHELLNOW)

They say home cooking is the best, and it’s always great to sleep in your own bed.  Those sayings came true for a Dakota Wesleyan baseball team that has spent the majority of their 2024 baseball season on the road. The Tigers have been on the road 23 out of the last 30 games this season: that’s right, they have played only seven home games. The Tigers wasted no time in game one of a doubleheader at Drake Field against the Valley City State Vikings on a windy and cold afternoon in Mitchell. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Tiger bats were led by Caleb Meyers, who doubled in the first run of the game after a stellar performance the night before in Sioux Falls where he belted two home runs in the game.

Seth Christensen continued swinging a hot bat as well as he doubled in the second run of the game to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.  Christensen went 4 for 4 the night before. The Vikings would take the lead in the game, scoring three runs in the top of the third.  But in the bottom half of the inning, Seth Christensen grounded to second, scoring Caleb Meyers and knotting the game at three. Oscar Pravecek then doubled in Meyers, and the Tigers would take the lead for good at 4-3.  For good measure, Caleb Meyers continued his hot play, stealing home in the bottom of the sixth.  The Tigers upended the Vikings 5-3.  Jacob Glovich pitched a complete game gem, going 7 strong and only allowing 3 runs on 7 hits with 9 strikeouts and throwing 126 pitches in which 79 were strikes.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Tigers continued to rip the cover off the ball, amassing a very impressive 12 hits via the long ball, singles, and doubles.  DWU pumped in 8 runs to win game two by the final of 8-6. Again, pitching was key to the Tigers victory as Dexter Payne was the difference for the Tigers going six strong and only allowing 3 runs on 9 hits. The Tigers’ Logan Davis, who’s 2-0 on the season, came in in relief of Dexter Payne and slammed the door shut for DWU.

Everyone was in full agreement that the staff and faculty do an amazing job at Dakota Wesleyan University, and the Tigers play great at Drake Field. DWU’s baseball team is now 11-19 on the season.  They will hit the road again this Saturday and head to Hastings, Nebraska to battle the Hastings Broncos with the first pitch of the doubleheader at 1 PM.