By: Sagan Osborne - Dickinson State (N.D.)

Dickinson, N.D. - Simpson (Calif.) used a fast start and a strong outing from starting pitcher Gage Hoyle to earn a 9-5 win over Dakota State (S.D.) in the first round of the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
The Red Hawks (21-26 overall) scored six runs over the first two innings and never trailed, advancing to the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament. The Trojans (24-23 overall) drop into the elimination bracket and will play to extend their season on Friday.
Dylan Leek led the Simpson offense from the leadoff spot, finishing 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Cayden Lee added a pair of home runs and drove in four, including a three-run shot to center in the second that gave the Red Hawks a 6-1 advantage.
Simpson scored twice in the first inning, taking advantage of four straight batters reaching base. Jaxon Hotta delivered a two-run single to give the Red Hawks the early lead. In the second, Simpson capitalized again as Dominic Folks singled in a run before Lee’s homer pushed the lead to five.
Dakota State trimmed the deficit with a solo home run from Camaron Haller in the second and added two more in the third on an RBI single by Cory Brownson and a run-scoring error. Haller’s two-run single in the fourth brought the Trojans within one at 6-5, but Simpson’s bullpen held the line the rest of the way.
Haller finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including his sixth home run of the season. Hunter Vikemyr posted a three-hit game with a run scored, and Aidan Perry reached base three times and scored twice. Brownson collected two hits and drove in a run.
Simpson added insurance with single runs in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings. Lee’s second home run of the day came in the sixth, and Leek capped his performance with a solo shot in the eighth.
Hoyle (8-1) earned the win after throwing 5.2 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits with four strikeouts. Geremy McCollough, Ruben Lujan, and Logan Boenker combined to allow just one hit over the final 3.1 innings to close out the win.
Nicholai Arbach (6-5) was charged with the loss, giving up eight earned runs on 11 hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two. Caleb Hoppe pitched the final two innings in relief, allowing one run on one hit.
Both teams finished the game without committing an error. Simpson outhit Dakota State 12-11 and left seven runners on base. The Trojans stranded eight and hit into two double plays.
Dakota State will play an elimination game on Friday, while Simpson advances to face a top-seed Bellevue later in the day.