RELEASE DATE: 3/11/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SOUTH DAKOTA USES FIVE RUN FIRST INNING TO BEAT MOUNTIES 6-3 IN FT. MYERS

FT. MYERS, FL – South Dakota scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning and then held on to beat Mansfield 6-3 in NCAA Division II baseball in Ft. Myers, FL Thursday evening.

Mansfield cut the lead to 6-3 after three innings and had scoring opportunities to score in the later innings but could not push another run across.

Dan Yoder (Williamsport/Williamsport) suffered his first defeat in three decisions with Brandon Brokaw, DJ Hoshauer and David Meldrum each driving in a run.

The Mountaineers fall to 9-6 overall and Southern New Hampshire in a doubleheader on Friday.

Mansfield           012       000       0          3-7-1

South Dakota     500       001       x          6-10-0

Mansfield (9-6): Dan Yoder (L, 2-1), Marty Rakaczewski (6) and DJ Hoshauer

RBI – Brandon Brokaw, David Meldrum, Hoshauer

South Dakota (5-6): Brian Kungl (W, 1-2) and Drake Carlson

2b – Bryan Hohenthaner, Chris Fielder

RBI – Hohenthaner 2, Fielder, John Quade, Cress Murdock