Sioux City, Iowa – Dakota Wesleyan baseball traveled to Sioux City, Iowa to face Briar Cliff in a double header. The Tigers fell both times to Briar Cilff.
Game 1: Dakota Wesleyan 3, Briar Cliff 7
Briar Cliff defeated Dakota Wesleyan 7-3 on April 17, 2025, in a game at Bishop Mueller Complex. Dakota Wesleyan took an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning, but Briar Cliff quickly responded with a four-run second inning. They added three more runs in the third, driven by home runs from Cade Marquardt and Connor Neubeck, along with RBIs from Raenan Padilla. Dakota Wesleyan’s offense struggled to keep up, adding just one more run in the second, and couldn’t muster any further rallies.
Mitchell Sand started for Dakota Wesleyan and took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in six innings. Despite a solid performance from Lane Darrow and Joseph Tharaldson, who each had two hits, Dakota Wesleyan couldn’t capitalize on their offensive opportunities. They finished with eight hits overall, but Briar Cliff’s pitching and defense kept them from threatening after the early innings.
Briar Cliff’s offense was led by Neubeck and Marquardt, who each had a home run and multiple RBIs. Dakota Wesleyan finished the game with no errors, while Briar Cliff committed one.
Game 2: Dakota Wesleyan 7, Briar Cliff 4
In a close contest on April 17, 2025, Briar Cliff (IA) defeated Dakota Wesleyan 6-5 at Bishop Mueller. Briar Cliff got off to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first and another two in the second inning, taking a 4-1 advantage. Diego Trujillo was the standout for Briar Cliff, driving in three runs, including a two-RBI double in the second inning. Dakota Wesleyan responded in the third with a two-run inning, fueled by a Joseph Tharaldson RBI single and a Tommy Dutton RBI, but they couldn’t capitalize on other scoring opportunities. Dakota Wesleyan tacked on one more run in the sixth, but Briar Cliff held them off in the later innings.
Dakota Wesleyan’s offense showed some promise, collecting nine hits, but they left five runners on base, which hindered their chances. Joseph Tharaldson led the way with two RBIs, while Dexter Payne added a pair of hits and a run scored. The team also got key contributions from Lane Darrow, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, and Landon Ruesink, who drove in a run. On the mound, Dakota Munger started and pitched three innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits. Nathaniel Huisken relieved Munger and gave up one earned run on three hits in three innings of work, striking out two.
Briar Cliff’s Johnny Reed earned the win after going 6.1 innings, allowing five runs (five earned) on nine hits while striking out two. Reed also managed to minimize the damage despite throwing 75 pitches. Brock Wallace came in for the final 0.2 innings, striking out one and preserving the win. Rance Bryant was a key contributor for Briar Cliff, scoring three times despite only having one hit, and adding a stolen base. Briar Cliff’s defense was solid with only one error, while Dakota Wesleyan committed two errors, which contributed to the outcome. Briar Cliff’s offense and pitching were just enough to secure the win in this well-fought battle.
Up Next
The Tigers will have another chance to sweep Briar Cliff this weekend for a doubleheader slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.