May 2, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. - No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) stayed alive in the 2026 Frontier Conference Baseball Championship on Saturday, beating No. 6 seed Bismarck State (N.D.) 9-7 in a neutral-site loser-out game at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark.
In a game that swung repeatedly through the middle innings, Dakota State (21-29-1 overall record) broke a 7-7 tie in the eighth when Aidan Marsh and Hunter Den Boer hit back-to-back home runs to provide the final margin.
DaSU finished with 12 hits, three home runs, and four stolen bases, while BSC also collected 12 hits. The Trojans struck first with three runs in the top of the third, highlighted by George Hogan’s two-run single for a 3-0 lead.
The Mystics answered immediately with a four-run bottom of the third, getting key production from Evan Fuchs and Pacey Phillips to move in front 4-3.
The lead changed again in the fourth and fifth. DaSU's Connor Raney’s sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth tied the game at 4-4, but BSC responded with two runs in the bottom half to go back ahead 6-4.
Dakota State then surged in front in the fifth with a three-run inning, the biggest swing coming on Cameron DeMaria’s two-run home run that put Dakota State ahead 7-6.
Bismarck State did not let the game settle there, as Cole Shirley opened the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to even the score at 7-7.
That set the stage for the decisive eighth. Marsh led off the inning with a solo shot to give Dakota State an 8-7 edge, and Den Boer followed immediately with another homer to make it 9-7.
Marsh finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs, a home run and two walks, while Den Boer went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and the insurance homer for DaSU. DeMaria added two RBIs with his fifth-inning blast.
BSC had its own standout performances at the plate, led by Phillips, who went 4 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. But after the teams combined for 14 runs through five innings, Dakota State’s pitching stabilized the game. Braylon Bear (W, 2-4) worked five innings in relief to earn the win, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five on 65 pitches. Dakota State pitchers combined to hold the Mystics scoreless over the final four innings after Shirley’s tying homer in the fifth.
The win sends Dakota State onward in the conference postseason, while Bismarck State is eliminated with an overall record of 21-27.
The Trojans play No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) in another elimination game at 2:30 p.m. (MT), vying for a spot in Sunday's championship game versus No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.).