MAYVILLE, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State baseball team lost a non-conference game at Mayville State on Thursday, falling 8-3 in a nine-inning contest.

Mayville State scored in each of the first three innings to open an 6-0 lead and the Vikings were unable to recover. VCSU finished with three runs on seven hits. Mayville State scored its eight runs on nine hits.

Jorun Hamre‘s RBI single scored David Demeter for VCSU’s first run of the game in the sixth inning. Drew Nixon followed with a two-run home run in the eighth inning to cap VCSU’s scoring.

Hamre went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Nixon was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Jayden Shipman, Demeter, Gage Gellner and Ryan Reynolds each had a hit.

Four different Vikings took the mound on Thursday. Phillip Almanza started and went two innings, allowing five hits and five runs. He walked three and struck out four. Wes Johnson pitched three innings in relief, striking out five batters while giving up four hits and three runs. Marcus Niemann pitched two perfect innings, and Matthew Suda followed with a perfect inning of his own – striking out the side in the eighth inning.

Up next: Valley City State will host North Dakota State College of Science for a JV doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. in Valley City. On Saturday, the Vikings travel to play at doubleheader at Dickinson State.