From Jamestown Athletics

MITCHELL, S.D.– The University of Jamestown baseball team nearly came back from a four-run deficit Friday afternoon, but fell just one run short in a 7-6 loss to Dakota Wesleyan University.

The second game of Friday’s doubleheader was canceled due to rain. Jamestown has qualified for the GPAC postseason tournament and the full pairings will be announced on Sunday.

UJ got on the board early, as Luke Shekeryk (SR/Seattle, WA) led off with a single and Tayler Cullen (SR/Santa Rosa, Calif.) followed with a two-run homer to left, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Shekeryk extended the Jimmie lead with a double that drove in Tanner Shepard (SR/Grand Rapids, MN) with two outs in the third.

DWU rallied to take the lead with four runs in the third, and the score remained 4-3 until the Tigers added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Jamestown mounted a strong comeback in their final at bat. With one out, Xander Orejudos (JR/Ellensburg, WA) walked and advanced to second on a balk. Shepard came through with a two-run homer to right, making it 7-5. After the Tigers recorded the second out of the inning, Cullen connected on his second homer of the game, bringing UJ within a run. Despite giving up three runs on a pair of home runs, DWU reliever Troy Wilhelm finished the inning with a strikeout and held off the rally.

Shepard, Shekeryk, and Cullen each had two hits, accounting for all six Jimmie knocks.