Sioux Falls, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State baseball team traveled to Sioux Falls to host the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State Tuesday in an NSIC double-header. Dalton Kesti put on a hitting clinic and Wolves sweep Mustangs on late-game heroics.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Game One: NSU 9, SMSU 5
Game Two: NSU 6, SMSU 5
Records: NSU 10-14 (NSIC 8-11), SMSU 15-16 (NSIC 5-14)
GAME ONE: NSU 9, SMSU 5
- SMSU got on the board first with one run in the top of the second
- Five straight walks by the Mustangs resulted in two Wolves (Collin Lott and Dillon Castellanos) touching home and loading the bases
- Andrew Niaves batted in Kyle Konechne on the next at bat to put Northern up 3-1 after two
- In the top of the third, Southwest Minn. State tied the game up 3-3
- A big fifth inning saw Northern State take back the by bringing in six runs; runs were scored by Mateo Tahsini, Dalton Kesti, Drew Benson, Castellanos, Lott, and Jordan Hull, Wolves on top 9-3
- Two hit by pitches led to two runs in the seventh inning for the Mustangs; their two-out comeback ultimately fell short
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Castellanos: 1-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Benson: 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Niaves: 1-3, 2 RBI
GAME TWO: NSU 6, SMSU 5
- The Mustangs started off hot, scoring the first five runs of the game; one run in the first, three in the third, and one in the fourth
- Northern State rallied, putting up six unanswered runs to take the lead and win the game
- With two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Mateo Tahsini touched home plate on a wild pitch to get the Wolves on the board
- Dalton Kesti fired up the team with a triple in the sixth inning, he was batted in on a Drew Benson single on the next at bat
- Dylan Soulek stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and two outs; he doubled down the left field line to bring Benson, Lott, and Jack Weidner in, Wolves tie the game 5-5
- SMSU left five runners on base in the last three innings, setting up the Wolves for a nineth inning classic
- In the bottom of the nineth, Kesti led off with a double to right center, bringing the winning run within scoring position
- Two outs later, Dillon Castellanos hit a walk-off single, bringing Kesti home for the 6-5 Wolves comeback
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Kesti: 5-5, 1 run, triple, double
Benson: 1-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, 9 put outs
Tahsini: 2-5, 1 run
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Dalton Kesti had five hits on five at bats in game two against Southwest Minn. State. His five hits ties a program record and is the first Wolf to do so since Brennan Phillips and Jack Weidner in 2024.
UP NEXT
Wolves baseball will return home to host Augustana on Saturday, April 11 at Fossum Field in Aberdeen, S.D. First pitch for game one of the double-header is set for 1:30 p.m.
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