DSU Defeats LSU In NSAA Tourney
La Sierra spotted Dickinson State (ND) six runs in the first three innings, staged a rally, but could not close the gap and fell 17-5 in seven innings in the first round of the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Championship in Dickinson, ND. With the setback, the Golden Eagles will turn right around and play in an elimination game tomorrow at 11:00 am (PT) against Jamestown (ND). The NSAA was awarded two automatic bids to the NAIA Baseball National Tournament Opening Round, which will begin on May 12 at regional sites. Regular season champion Bellevue (Neb.) claimed the first spot, and the winner of the postseason tournament claims the second. If BU wins the postseason tournament, the second automatic bid will go to the tournament's runner-up.
Trailing 8-1 going into the 6th, LSU (19-19) made things interesting with a four-run rally, cutting the deficit to three runs. Dean Samuel was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Matthew Pontes followed with a single to right, Ethan Gibbs reached on a fielder's choice, and Stephen Chavez singled to load the bases for Ethan King. King promptly cleared the bases with a double and then scored on Bobby Benavidez's double.
The Blue Hawks (19-27), however, responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame and four more in the 7th on Luis Rodriguez's grand slam that put DSU up by 12, invoking the 10-run mercy rule.
Benavidez, Pontes, and Chavez each had two hits for the Golden Eagles.
NSAA Baseball Championship Central
2025 NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Dickinson State | Dickinson, ND
(All times PT)
Thursday, May 1
Game 1: #1 Bellevue (Neb.) 9, #8 Valley City State (ND) 3
Game 2: #4 Simpson 9, #5 Dakota State (SD) 5
Game 3: #7 Mayville State (ND) 12, #2 Jamestown (ND) 11
Game 4: #3 Dickinson State (ND) 17, #6 La Sierra 5
Friday, May 2
8:00 am - Game 5: Valley City State (ND) vs. Dakota State (SD) (loser eliminated)
11:00 am - Game 6: Jamestown (ND) vs. La Sierra (loser eliminated)
3:00 pm - Game 7: Bellevue (Neb.) vs. Simpson
6:00 pm - Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Saturday, May 3
8:00 am - Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 (loser eliminated)
11:00 am - Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5 (loser eliminated)
3:00 pm - Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8
6:00 pm - Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9
Sunday, May 4
10:00 am - Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 (Ioser eliminated)
1:30 pm - Championship: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13
Monday, May 5
10:00 am - Championship (if necessary)