DICKINSON, N.D. -- Bismarck State baseball opened their 2026-27 campaign Saturday evening with their first countable game, a non-conference nine-inning matchup with Dickinson State (N.D.). The Mystics fell in a hard-fought 5-4 loss, as the Blue Hawks walked it off with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning at DCB&T Ballpark.
Bismarck State (0-1) wasted little time getting on the board, scoring in the top of the first when
Brayden Bunnell grounded out to drive in
Lucas Vasey. The Mystics extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning on a two-run double from Vasey that scored
Ryan Jeffrey and
Tate Herrmann.
Dickinson State (1-0) answered with a run in the third on a Kadin Finders RBI single, then tied the wild pitch home when Finders came around to score later in the frame, knotting the game at 3-3 an inning later on a Finders RBI double.
The Mystics regained the lead in the top of the fifth when Caleb Gimbel singled home Brayden Bunnell, making it 4-3. But the Blue Hawks tied it right back in the sixth on a Jace Buchanan RBI triple, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth innings before DSU's Jacob McIntyre delivered the decisive blow, homering to left-center field in the bottom of the ninth to end it, 5-4.
Vasey paced the Mystics offense, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and a stolen base. Bunnell added two hits, including a double and an RBI, while Gimbel drove in a run as well. Bismarck State finished with 10 hits as a team.
River Walters started on the mound for BSC, working 2.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Omar Reynoso, Alex Panitzke and Nelson Ahumada followed out of the bullpen, with Ahumada (0-1) taking the loss after surrendering the game-ending home run.
Dickinson State countered with Brandon Hegedus, Mason Manning and Joseph Pericozzi before Noah Aliff (1-0) closed things out with two scoreless innings to earn the win. Finders led the Blue Hawks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Buchanan and McIntyre each drove in a run.
The Mystics return home for three scrimmages over the next two weeks before their final action of the fall, a doubleheader against Mayville State (N.D.) on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Check out the baseball schedule for information on how to follow and watch the team during their upcoming games.
Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.
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