Vikings Host Lancers and Cougars

Dana looked to add to its conference win total over the weekend with home contests against Mt. Marty and the University of Sioux Falls.  Petersen Field was not the friendly confines to the Vikings on Saturday or Sunday.  Mt. Marty swept Dana 5-2 and 3-1 on Saturday.  The Vikings split the double header against USF winning 8-2 and losing 9-1 in the second game.

Saturday’s first game started off for the Vikings.  Taylor Hoskinson (FR, Omaha, NE) opened the game with a walk and then took second on a passed ball.  He advanced to third on an error by the Lancer third baseman.  Alex Johnson (FR, Red Oak, IA) drove in Hoskinson with a single to left field.  Following a stolen base, Johnson scored on a single by Quentin Connealy (SR, Tekamah, NE).  The Vikings managed only two more hits the rest of the game.  Mt. Marty struck for two runs in the second and third innings, before scoring a solo run in the fourth.  Austin Lunn (FR, Omaha, NE), Johnson, Connealy, and Tim Sabadin (SR, Lake Elizabeth, CA) had the only hits for Dana.  Johnson, Sabadin, and Cody Falk (FR, Arlington, NE) each stole a base in the loss.  Robert Riggs (SO, Council Bluffs, IA) pitched four innings and suffered the loss.  Riggs gave up six hits and four earned runs.  Anthony Teal (JR, Omaha, NE) pitched the final three innings and gave up only one hit.

Game two saw they Vikings scratch out six hits, but commit three errors.  Mt. Marty took the lead in the top of the second.  The Lancers capitalized on a walk and a double to score the first run of the game.  Quentin Connealy opened the bottom of the second with a single.  Tim Sabadin crushed a double to center that allowed Connealy to score and tie the game.  Mt. Marty did not let the game remain tied for long as they responded with three hits and a run in the top of the third.  They earned an insurance run in the top of the seventh off a wild pitch.  Drew Petersen (FR, Omaha, NE) reached base on a one out walk.  He then took third on a single by Taylor Hoskinson.  Hoskinson was gunned down at second as he tried to stretch a single into a double.  Petersen was stranded at third as Andrew James (FR, Omaha, NE) flew out to center to end the game.  Connealy was the only Viking to have two hits.  He also had a stolen base.  Matt Weeks (JR, Omaha, NE) was the tough luck loser.  Weeks pitched five and a third innings of six hit ball.  He allowed two runs and struck out two.

Sunday’s game against the University of Sioux Falls was moved to Blair due to snow still being on the ground in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Dana found itself on the warm side of home cooking in the first game.  Dana opened the game with three runs in the first inning.  The Vikings used four hits and a Cougar error to break the game open.  USF pulled within 3-2 in the second inning with a walk and a triple.  Dana was not to be denied as they scored two more runs in the fifth and three in the seventh.    Quentin Connealy had a huge game for the Vikings.  Connealy went two for three with five runs batted in and scored two runs.  Taylor Hoskinson and Andrew James added two hits apiece.  Pete Treantos (FR, Omaha, NE) picked up the win by going five innings.  He allowed five hits and two runs, while striking out four.  Anthony Teal (JR, Omaha, NE) came in and pitched the final two innings.  Teal allowed no runs or hits.

Game two was not as kind to the Vikings.  USF used ten hits and two Viking errors to win game two 9-1 and salvage a split.  Dana had five players with one hit.  Andrew Cookston (FR, Lincoln, NE) and Austin Lunn each had doubles in the loss.  Alex Johnson drove in the lone Viking run.  Johnson threw five innings and suffered the loss.  He gave up eight hits and seven runs.  Blake Peterson (FR, Avoca, IA) allowed two hits and two innings in one inning of relief.

Coach Misfeldt’s Corner

 “We played about as well as we can in the opener. We had a great pitching performance, played some good defense and finally got some timely hitting. That’s really what this silly game of baseball is all about. Needless to say, it was a very good feeling for us. Our starter, Pete Treantos, set the tone by throwing a ton of strikes. He and Anthony Teal simply did an awesome job on the mound for us. Offensively, Quentin Connealy showed some senior leadership by knocking in five runs. Taylor Hoskinson and Andrew James each had two hits as well. The fact is we had some good swings from a lot of other guys in that first game.”

 “The loss in the nightcap was really disappointing. In fact our losses Saturday (against Mt. Marty) hurt too. But what Dana baseball fans have to remember is that we’re still very young this year. We started eight freshmen in Sunday’s second game – and it really showed. They’ve still got a lot of learning to do, especially on how to put away a team once you have them on the ropes. But I really like my young guys and I still get excited about working with them and watching them in action. They’re going to do nothing but get better and better.”

Game 1 vs.  Mt. Marty: http://www.dana.edu/baseball/stats08/mmcdan1.htm

Game 2 vs. Mt. Marty: http://www.dana.edu/baseball/stats08/mmcdan2.htm

Game 1 vs. USF: http://www.dana.edu/baseball/stats08/danusf.htm

Game 2 vs. USF: http://www.dana.edu/baseball/stats08/danusf2.htm

Dana is now 5-16 on the season and 2-6 in GPAC play.  The Vikings will travel to Fremont, Nebraska on Wednesday to face Midland Lutheran College.  The Warriors are in second place in the GPAC with a 14-11 record and are 6-2 in conference play.  First pitch is scheduled 6:00pm.

For more information, please contact:  Shad Beam, Sports Information Director at 402-426-7389 or sbeam@dana.edu.