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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) After taking two games from Dakota State in their home opener on Friday, the Valley City State Baseball team split the series finale with the Trojans with a game one win of 3-0 then falling in extra innings in game two 4-3.
Valley City’s pitching was on key in both games. Mike Gershman earned the game one victory in a 7 inning shutout. He allowed just three hits in the game forcing the Trojans into numerous ground outs and fly balls. The Manitoba native only struck out one batter, but it was all he needed as he kept the base paths clear a majority of the game.
The Vikings winning run was scored in the bottom of the second. Dan Buehner reached base on a walk then was pinch run for by Derek Elliot. On the ensuing pitch, Elliot stole second base. He would touch home just moments later when Rob Wiley sent a shot up the middle for an RBI double.
Valley City would add two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, when Jake Rambow sent the ball right back up the middle driving in two more scores.
Chip Rosales took the mound for the Vikings in game two looking to start things off in a nine inning game. However, Rosales would find himself on the bump for 11 innings as nether side could break a 3-3 tie.
The Trojans got to the Vikings pitcher early, scoring Danny Flahie on a Nate Wieneke single. Later in the third, David Halstead would lift Dakota State to a three run lead with a home run that sailed over the left field wall.
The Vikings first run didn’t come until the fourth innings. That’s when Nate Bagby sent a looper up the middle that scored Cole Honl. The Vikings would add two more runs in the 5th and 8th innings tying game with RBI’s from Brady Anderson and Jared Meiklejohn.
In the top of the 11th inning, the final run would cross home when the Trojans Andy Lee hit a RBI single that the Vikings could not over come.
The days split gives the Vikings a 15-22 over record while they stand 6-4 in the North Star.