Waldorf Baseball Lets 5-0 Lead Slip Away in 6-5 Loss at Dakota Wesleyan

MITCHELL, S.D. - Waldorf carried a five-run lead into the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday, but Dakota Wesleyan flipped the game with a six-run rally and handed the Warriors a 6-5 loss at Drake Field.

The decisive swing came from Brett Groebner, whose grand slam to right field capped the comeback and pushed Dakota Wesleyan in front for the first time all afternoon. The Tigers scored all six of their runs in the sixth after Waldorf had controlled the game through the first five-plus innings.

Waldorf built its early advantage in the second when Ryland Humphrey launched a three-run homer to left field for a 3-0 lead. The Warriors added on in the top of the sixth, first on Humphrey's RBI single, then when Cameron Bailey was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, stretching the margin to 5-0. Humphrey finished 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored, accounting for most of Waldorf's offense in a seven-hit day.

Brandon Berg kept Dakota Wesleyan quiet for much of his outing and piled up 11 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. But the sixth unraveled quickly. Caleb Meyers scored on a passed ball to put the Tigers on the board, Diego Jirau drew an RBI walk, and Groebner followed with the game-changing grand slam. Berg was charged with six runs, four earned, on four hits and four walks in the loss.

Dakota Wesleyan starter Alex Mizsak went the distance for the win, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and threw 95 pitches, settling in after Waldorf's big second inning and giving his offense time to respond despite the Tigers committing two errors.

The Warriors had one last chance in the seventh. Mason Smith worked a walk and Jack Kamalski added a single, but Waldorf could not bring home the tying run. Waldorf finished with five runs on seven hits and no errors, while Dakota Wesleyan scored six runs on six hits to complete the comeback.