BISMARCK, N.D. - Bismarck State baseball welcomed Mayville State (N.D.) to Haaland Field on Tuesday afternoon for their first pair of games since joining the NAIA. 

Game One

The Comets got on the board first as they put up three runs in the top of the second frame, thanks in part to doubles by Robert Gurney and Jack McQueen. Cam Goff, Marshall Judisch and Tyler Kleinjan each picked up an RBI to jump out to an early lead when Goff extended that lead to four in the top of the third. 

The Mystics broke through against Garret Lundmark in the bottom of the third as Tate Mart scored on a wild pitch and Pacey Phillips scored on a Cole Shirley sacrifice fly to right field to cut the lead in half. The Comets would get those two runs right back thanks to a two-run double by Kevin Conway. 

With the score 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Mystics began their comeback in a big way. Tate Mart singled to drive in Evan Fuchs, and Mart was immediately brought home as Pacey Phillips drove the first pitch he saw over the right-center field fence to bring them to within one. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Caleb Gimbel crushed the third pitch he saw and sent it over the wall in right-center to tie the game at six. That score wouldn't hold for long after an Alec Vincent walk and an overthrown pickoff, followed by Gimbel's homer to put a runner on third for the Mystics with no outs. Karsen Haney didn't waste that opportunity and singled to drive in the go-ahead run.

That score held until the top of the seventh as Eli Thompson looked to close the door on the Mystics' first victory. With men on the corners and two outs, he induced a ground ball to short to put the game in the win column for the Mystics, marking a historic moment as the first NAIA victory for the baseball program.

Picking up the win for the Mystics was Brian Atkinson, who faced four batters in the top of the fifth and tossed a scoreless frame in relief. Eli Thompson picked up the two-inning save as he followed Atkinson with a scoreless relief appearance of his own. Camacho and Walters, the first two pitchers for Mystics, each went two innings and were charged with three earned runs apiece. 

Game Two

Pitching was dominant in the second game of the twin bill. Comet starter Aleks Koppel, originally from Estonia, was in control over three innings, collecting six strikeouts and only allowing one hit. His counterpart, Alex Panitzke, was just as effective, cruising through four innings, only allowing one run and striking out three. 

It took until the bottom of the fifth, but the Mystics were finally able to break through after Bryson Mohs scored on an error after he reached on a one-out double. The Comets would retake the lead in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles, both of which came around to score after two consecutive pitches reached the backstop to score one. A third pitch to pitch to the backstop allowed the second run home to make it 3-1.

A sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh extended the Comets' lead to three heading into the bottom of the final frame. The Mystics had their sights set on another comeback as Tate Herrmann walked to lead off the inning, and the spark was provided by a Beau Denny pinch-hit opportunity. He sent one over the wall in right field to bring home Herrmann and make the score, for the moment, 4-3. Before the ensuing at-bat, however, the Comets appealed to home and Denny was ruled out for missing the plate. 

The score reverted to 4-2 but the extra run proved irrelevant as the Mystics would then go down in order to seal the game for the Comets. Jake Hutter picked up the win for the Comets, and Kyler Droog recorded the save as neither was charged with an earned run. 

Up Next

The Mystics' next action will be on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. as they host Lake Region State College at Haaland Field. Their next game will be on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. as they host Valley City State (N.D.) at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark.


For the full fall baseball schedule, visit /sports/baseball/schedule/2026. Be sure to check back to follow the games on our website, or on the MysticNation app.