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CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)– Kalton Agnes pitched out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the top of the ninth inning Sunday as Mayville State won game one of the NSAA Baseball Bracket B championship, 5-4 over Valley City State University.

The Comets (43-10) force a second championship game with the Vikings (27-25) on Monday in Valley City at 2 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to the NSAA Tournament championship game which will also be played on Monday.

Trailing 5-3 entering the ninth inning, the Vikings loaded the bases on a walk and hits from Manny Leyva and Tyler Ukestad. Agnes pitched his way out of trouble though, inducing Jared Meiklejohn into a run-scoring double play that made it 5-4. Agnes then struck out Joe Demers to end the game and leave the tying run at third base.

Valley City State opened the scoring with a single run in the top of the third inning. Meiklejohn led off the inning with a ground ball to shortstop that Riley Nelson threw away, allowing Meiklejohn to go to second base. After Joe Demers struck out, Brady Anderson roped a single to right field that scored Meiklejohn for a 1-0 lead.

The Comets broke through against Viking starter Jordon Roos in the sixth inning after collecting just two hits through the first five innings. A single and walk put runners on first and second with one out. Jonathan Folena then grounded one back to Roos who tried to turn a double play. The throw to second tipped off of Meiklejohn’s glove, which allowed Riley Nelson to score from second and tie the game. Brady Nygaard followed with a solid RBI single and then Dondrei Hubbard blooped one down the right field line that scored Zachary Schwieters for a 3-0 lead.

Valley City State battled back to tie the game in the top of the eighth thanks in part to a pair of Mayville miscues. Meiklejohn led off the inning with a sharp single to center field and then moved to second when Mason Swegarden bobbled the ball in center. Joe Demers then lifted a lazy fly to right field which was dropped by Schwieters, putting runners on first and third. Brady Anderson followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2 and then Ben Bruenjes laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. Nate Bagby tied the game with a bloop single to left field that scored Demers.

From there, the Vikings made their own pair of miscues to end the threat. Anthony Necochea was called out after running into his own bunt and then Brady Anderson was thrown out at home to end the inning after the Vikings tried a double steal.

The Comets answered right back in the bottom of the inning. A walk and base hit chased Roos from the game with one out in the eighth. Max Koprek came on in relief and on his first pitch Brady Nygaard lined a sharp double to left-center that scored pinch runner Blake Pistulka for a 4-3 lead. Dondrei Hubbard followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Comets up 5-3, which was just enough of a lead for Agnes in the ninth.

Jordon Roos started and pitched into the eighth for the Vikings, giving up six hits and five runs – three earned – in 7 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. Roos was lights out through the first five innings, allowing just two hits.

Brady Anderson went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Viking offense. Jared Meiklejohn was 1-for-4 with a pair of runs. Nate Bagby added a hit and RBI.

Facing elimination, the Comets got a great start from Camran Bonnema who gave up just one unearned run and three hits in seven innings of work. He walked two and struck out seven. Jacob Torgerson worked the eighth inning for the Comets, giving up a pair of runs. He was credited with the win after Mayville regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Kalton Agnes came on to pitch the ninth and pick up the save.

Mayville State finish with seven hits, led by two hits and two RBIs from Brady Nygaard. Dondrei Hubbard drove in a pair of runs and Jonathan Folena scored twice.

The Vikings and Comets have now split their two games in the tournament. The rubber-match on Monday will decide who advances to the NSAA Tournament Championship game Monday afternoon. Game is schedule to begin at 2pm, the game can be heard on KOVC and NewsDakota.com.