Article and Photo Via Jimmie Athletics

JAMESTOWN, ND. (jimmiepride.com) – Brian Rice (JR/Vancouver, WA) went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs, including a go-ahead two-run home run as the University of Jamestown baseball team defeated Dickinson State (N.D.) University 8-4 Wednesday afternoon at Jack Brown Stadium.

With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth, Chase Hacker (SR/Millcreek, WA) reached on a two-out walk. Rice then drove an 0-1 pitch from John Koronoka (0-2) over the right field fence to make it 6-4.

Dickinson State took a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Robert Encinas that scored Kobe Krenz from third.

Rice singled home Blake Arritola (SO/Salem, OR) and Chase Hacker with one out in the bottom of the third, then came home on a single by Luke Shekeryk (JR/Seattle, WA) to make it 3-1. Tayler Cullen (JR/Santa Rosa, Calif.) doubled to center to bring home Shekeryk and extend the lead to 4-1.

The Blue Hawks rallied to tie the game in the top of the fourth. After Jacob Clinton and Mathias Dufner each singled to start the inning, Karson Backer doubled to deep right field to make it 4-3. Kaiden Reeve reached on an error, sending Backer to third. Krenz grounded out to Grant Okawa (SR/Mississauga, ON) for the first out, but Backer came home on the play for the third run of the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kendall Yackley (SO/Lynnwood, WA) added a pair of insurance runs with a two-run home run to deep left field, giving UJ an 8-4 lead.

Cameron Multer (FR/Greeley, CO) (1-0), the fourth Jimmie pitcher, worked two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking two and striking out two, earned the win.

Cullen finished 2-for-4, and Arritola, Hacker, and Matt Meraz (SR/Aurora, CO) each stole a base.

Jamestown, now 28-17, closes out the regular season with a pair of home doubleheaders against Doane (Neb.) Saturday and Sunday.