BROOKINGS – South Dakota State scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning and a trio of freshmen pitchers combined to keep NAIA foe Dakota Wesleyan off the scoreboard as the Jackrabbits beat the Tigers 1-0 in their home opener on Wednesday afternoon at Erv Huether field.
Hunter Even picked up the win on the mound in his first collegiate start. He threw five shutout innings, allowing five hits with seven strikeouts.
Brett Mogen gave up just one hit with four strikeouts and a walk over the next three frames.
Quinn Reimers, making his team-leading 10th appearance of the season, retired all three batters he faced, including one by strikeout, to pick up his inaugural save.
Luke Ringhofer’s two-out single got SDSU going in the first. Newt Johnson and Matt Johnson then drew back-to-back walks – the latter has reached base safely in all 20 games this season.
DWU third baseman Zach Uttecht misplayed Philip Jacobson’s grounder, which allowed Ringhofer to score what proved to be the game’s lone run.
Landon Badger, Skyler Wenninger and Ian Cote had the Jackrabbits’ other hits, while Phil Velez drew a walk.
Tiger starter Nathan Smith gave up one run – unearned – on one hit with two walks in three innings of work.
Patrick Whetham also surrendered just one hit over the next three innings, striking out one batter. Dominique Boerger allowed two hits and a walk while posting two strikeouts to close out the game.
Tyler Waddle went 2-for-4 and leadoff hitter Tramane Moore doubled for Dakota Wesleyan (7-15).
DWU left eight runners on base and SDSU stranded six.
South Dakota State (10-10) opens a three-game Summit League series playing host to IPFW on Friday at 3 p.m.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1, DAKOTA WESLEYAN 0
DWU 000 000 000 – 0 6 1
SDSU 100 000 00x – 1 4 1
Nathan Smith, Patrick Whetham (4), Dominique Boerger (7) and Tramane Moore, Sean Riley (7); Hunter Even, Brett Mogen (6), Quinn Reimers (9) and Ian Cote. W – Even (1-0). L – Smith (1-1). Sv – Reimers (1). 2B: DWU, Moore.
