April 30, 2026

DICKINSON, N.D. - No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) scored in six of seven innings and pulled away for a 14-4 seven-inning win over No. 6 seed Bismarck State (N.D.) on Thursday in the 2026 Frontier Conference Baseball Championship at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark. The home team built a nine-run cushion before weathering Bismarck State’s only surge, then answered immediately to close out the title game.

Dickinson State (25-23 overall record) finished with 14 runs on 12 hits and did not commit an error. The offensive pace started early. In the bottom of the first, Wyatt Wilharm’s sacrifice fly brought home Luis Rodriguez, and an error on the play pushed across a second run for a 2-0 lead. Jadyn Roberts added a two-run homer to left in the second inning, Rodriguez hit a two-run shot to left in the fourth, and Jaden Salazar followed with a three-run homer to right in the fifth as Dickinson State stretched the margin to 9-0.

Rodriguez turned in the biggest all-around line of the day, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored, two RBIs, a home run, a walk and a stolen base. Salazar finished with three hits, three runs and three RBIs, while Roberts scored three times and drove in two runs. Dickinson State also showed patience throughout the afternoon, drawing seven walks, and added pressure on the bases with three steals.

Bismarck State’s (20-27 overall record) offense arrived in a burst in the top of the sixth. Eric Reiling and Karsen Haney each hit solo home runs, and Cole Shirley followed with a two-run homer as the deficit was cut to 9-4. Shirley had two hits and two RBIs in the loss. That inning accounted for all four runs and all three of Bismarck State’s home runs.

Any thought of a comeback was short-lived. Dickinson State answered in the bottom half of the sixth when Wilharm delivered another sacrifice fly and Jace Buchanan added an RBI single, restoring control at 11-4. In the seventh, Moses Dokes drove in a run during a three-run finish, and Ty Farwell scored on an error as Dickinson State brought the game to its final margin.

Mason Manning started for Dickinson State and worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out five on 78 pitches. Parker Henrich took the setback on the pitching mound for Bismarck State after tossing 4 2/3 innings.

The Blue Hawks play No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) to close out Thursday's opening session of the conference tournament. First pitch is set for 7 p.m (MT).

Bismarck State (N.D.) awaits the loser of Mayville State (N.D.)-Bellevue (Neb.) game Friday at 11 a.m. (MT).