Waldorf Baseball Closes Weekend 0-4 With 12-11 Loss at Dakota Wesleyan

MITCHELL, S.D. - Waldorf nearly erased an early seven-run hole Sunday afternoon, but Dakota Wesleyan held on for a 12-11 win after Brayden Cherrey retired the side in the ninth inning. The decisive stretch came in the bottom of the first, when the Tigers scored seven times, including a three-run home run by Jackson Jarding, and spent the rest of the day trying to withstand Waldorf's comeback attempts.

The Warriors answered in the second. Dylan Battye hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run inning that cut the deficit to 7-3. Dakota Wesleyan kept adding on with a run in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and one more in the sixth, building a 12-3 lead. Joseph Tharaldson helped drive that production for Dakota Wesleyan, finishing with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Jarding went 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Waldorf's biggest push came in the sixth inning. The Warriors scored five runs to trim the margin to 12-8, with Randy Martinez delivering a two-run double during the rally. Martinez finished with three RBIs, while Battye also drove in three runs and scored twice. Waldorf collected 13 hits in the game, including two doubles, a triple and Battye's home run, despite striking out 11 times.

The Warriors made one more charge in the eighth, scoring three times to pull within 12-11. Mason Smith capped that inning with an RBI on a fielder's choice, putting the tying run within reach heading to the ninth. Waldorf's offense showed consistent pressure late after being held scoreless in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

Dakota Wesleyan finished with 14 hits and drew seven walks, forcing Waldorf to navigate traffic throughout the afternoon. Lane Darrow added three hits and an RBI for the Tigers, who left 13 runners on base but still produced enough offense to survive. Waldorf finished with four errors, while Dakota Wesleyan committed one.

Cherrey closed the door in the ninth, striking out two as part of a perfect inning to secure the one-run result. In front of an attendance of 75, Waldorf's late push turned a game that looked decided early into a tense finish, but the Warriors' comeback stopped one run short in Mitchell.

Waldorf closed the weekend with an 0-4 record, including three 1-run losses. The Warriors now sit with a 9-24 overall record, and an 1-11 mark in conference play. The Warriors will play four games in two days against Morningside University this Friday and Saturday. All games will be in Forest City, IA.