DICKINSON, N.D. – Mayville State held off a furious ninth-inning rally by Jamestown to earn a 12-11 victory in the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament Thursday at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
The Comets (14-30) overcame an early 7-4 deficit by scoring eight runs over the final four innings, including four in the sixth and two more in the ninth to build what proved to be a critical cushion. Jamestown (32-16) nearly erased a five-run hole in the bottom of the ninth, hitting three home runs in the frame but ultimately came up one run short in the double-elimination contest.
Chris Shopbell led the Mayville offense with a 2-for-4 effort, scoring three runs and driving in two. He opened the scoring in the fourth when he crossed the plate on an error. After Jamestown responded with four runs in the bottom half, Shopbell belted a two-run homer to center field in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4.
After Jamestown regained the lead with a three-run fifth, Mayville State answered again in the sixth. Riley Rankin's RBI single brought home one run, and a pair of errors in the outfield allowed two more to score. A sacrifice fly from Zachary Evanochko capped the four-run inning, giving Mayville its first lead of the game at 8-7.
The Comets extended their advantage in the eighth when Jalen Denton hit a two-run home run to left, scoring Kevin Conway. In the ninth, Cameron Goff and Conway delivered back-to-back RBI doubles to push the lead to 12-7.
The Jimmies, who had 12 hits on the day, mounted a final comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Muizelaar started the rally with his second home run of the game, and Jordan Singleton followed with a solo shot to right. After a hit-by-pitch and a balk advanced Isaiah Roebuck into scoring position, Ben Patton crushed a two-run home run to center, his second of the game, trimming the deficit to one.
Jamestown had the tying run at the plate, but the Comets turned to reliever Jack Wold, who induced a flyout to end the game and secure the save.
Garret Lundmark (1-1) earned the win for Mayville State, pitching 8.1 innings and allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits while striking out five. Wold recorded the final two outs to earn the save.
Muizelaar went 4-for-5 for Jamestown with three runs scored and two RBI. Patton finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two home runs, while Roebuck went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Singleton also homered and walked twice.
Luke Zimmer started for Jamestown, allowing five runs over five innings. Ben Bohlmann and Ethan Petty followed in relief, with Petty allowing the decisive eighth-inning homer to Denton. Kai Mayfield and Joe Hart finished out the ninth.