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MITCHELL, S.D. — The University of Jamestown attempted to keep their winning streak alive with a late push but it was not enough as they lost 7-6 to Dakota Wesleyan on Friday, April 29 in Mitchell, South Dakota.
In what is becoming the norm, the Jimmies (26-22, 15-12) first runs came on a homer as Tayler Cullen was the current beneficiary, hitting a two run shot in the second to make it 2-0. The Jimmies added another one in the third inning when Luke Shekeryk doubled home Tanner Shepard to put the Jimmies up 3-0.
The Tigers (14-28, 7-19) fought back in the third inning when Caleb Crist hit a run scoring single to make it 3-1. Later in the inning, the Tigers’ Wyatt Hunt grounded out to third baseman Reece Mckenzie allowing Crist to come home and cut the deficit to 3-2. The next hitter was Carter Gullickson who slashed a single to left to score Matt Bezdicek and Cameron Quigley and put the Tigers out in front 4-3.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers’ Seth Christansen led off with a single, before two walks sandwiched between a strikeout loaded the bases for Bezdicek who got plunked forcing home Christiansen and making it a 5-3 game. Next up was Hunt who reached on an error by the shortstop, Kendall Yackley, allowing Ryan McGinnis to score and push his team’s lead to 6-3. Two batters later, an error by the Jimmies’ Xander Orejudos brought home Quigley and made it a 7-3 game.
Jimmies head coach Tom Hager said the loss was down to his team’s inability to find the strike zone.
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“We had too many free passes,” Hager said. “When you walk guys and put men on base then obviously it’s very difficult for us to defend. We’ve done a good job in the last couple of weeks of eliminating free passes but late in the game that’s something we did not handle well today.”
The Jimmies wouldn’t go down without a fight though as in the seventh, as Orejduos worked his way on and Shepard brought him home with a two run shot to right to cut the deficit to 7-5. Two batters later, Cullen kept the Jimmies hope alive with a solo shot to cut the deficit to 7-6.
“I would say they were really good in the aspect of knowing the approach that I’m taking to the plate is working consistently,” Cullen said. “I would say that’s the biggest thing, just continuing to keep the sample simple approach working towards the playoffs.”
This game was supposed to be the first half of a double header but rain canceled the second game, ending the Jimmies regular season in the process.
“The forecast was for heavier rain throughout the course of the day as well as thunder and lightning as we were wrapping up game one you could feel the heavier rain coming,” Hager said. “It was the right decision, certainly it would’ve been very very difficult to play in. I think it was the right decision to cancel the last game.”
The Jimmies now have to wait and see who they will play in the first round of the conference tournament on Thursday, May 5.
UJ 6, DWU 7
UJ: 0 2 1 0 0 0 3—6 6 2
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DWU: 0 0 4 0 0 3 X– 7 7 1
Scoring plays:
Second inning:
UJ: Tayler Cullen 2 run HR, Luke Shekeryk scores
Third inning:
UJ: Shekeryk RBI double, Tanner Shepard scores
DWU: Caleb Crist RBI single, Seth Christiansen scores
DWU: Wyatt Hunt grounds out to Reece Mckenzie, Crist scores
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DWU: Carter Gullickson 2 RBI single, Matt Bezdicek, Cameron Quigley scores
Sixth inning:
DWU: Bezdicek HBP, Christiansen scores
DWU: Hunt reaches on an error by Kendall Yackley, Ryan McGinnis scores, unearned
DWU: Kyler Halverson reaches on an error by Xander Orejudos, Quigley scores, unearned
Seventh inning:
UJ: Shepard 2 run HR, Orejudos scores
UJ: Cullen solo HR
WP: Jacob Glovich (3-4) LP: Rafael Cortez (1-1)
