Blue Hawks suffer a pair of tough losses on Sunday

Sagan Osborne | Dickinson State Sports Information Director

La Crosse, Wis. – Dickinson State suffered a pair of tough losses on Sunday to wrap up their NSAA conference series with Viterbo. The Blue Hawks fell 6-4 in game one before dropping game two 8-3. DSU now sits at 12-15 (4-4 NSAA) on the season.

GAME 1

Viterbo loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, and scored their first run via a walk, but Blue Hawk starter Brannan Hogan settled down from their pitching six strong innings of one run ball, allowing just four hits.

The Blue Hawks jumped in front in the bottom of the second inning thanks to solo home runs from Balas Buckmaster and Jacob Clinton as Hogan began to cruise. Dickinson State looked to really take control in the bottom of the sixth when Wyatt Wilharm homered and Kaiden Reeve drove in another run on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1 DSU. However, Viterbo continued to fight, as they did all weekend, and scored five runs over the final three innings against DSU relievers to take the lead, and the win.

GAME 2

Viterbo again jumped out to an early lead in game two, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning on an RBI triple and single. Just like in game one, the Blue Hawks had an answer, taking the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Balas Buckmaster singled to start the inning and came home a batter later when Dawson Cortese tripled to deep left center field. An error on a ground ball by Jacob Clinton scored Cortese and allowed Clinton to reach first, which paid off when he came around to score two batters later when Keanu Calamayan doubled down the left field line.

Unfortunately for DSU, Viterbo again found a way to battle back, getting a pair of three-run home runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to steal the win.