VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – JT Reed was 4-for-4 with a home run, and the Viking baseball team allowed just five hits in their spring home opener Tuesday night, a 9-2 victory over Mayville State University.
Mitch Taylor, William Hlady and Reed Butz combined to pitch the nine-inning victory, giving up just five hits and two runs to the Comets. VCSU’s offense finished with 13 hits. Reed’s three-run home run highlighted a four-run second inning as the Vikings never trailed in the game.
Valley City State improves its record to 7-14 overall. Mayville State drops to 11-6. Tuesday’s game was a non-conference contest.
Mitch Taylor, a freshman from Valley City, started on the mound and turned in 3 2/3 strong innings. The right-hander pitched three no-hit innings to start the game before Mayville State chased him with three hits and two runs in the fourth inning. Taylor walked just one batter and struck out two.
William Hlady and Reed Butz both pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Hlady picked up the win after working the middle innings, allowing just one hit. He walked two and struck out two. Butz pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit as well. He walked four and struck out four.
“I’m very happy with the start we got from Mitch,” said head coach Casey Olney. “It set the tone and allowed the offense to find a rhythm.”
Gedeon Ellis, JT Reed and Drew Nixon combined for 11 of VCSU’s 13 hits Tuesday. JT Reed went 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs – all coming on his second-inning home run. He also reached once on a walk and added two stolen bases. Ellis, batting from the leadoff position, went 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI. He set the tone for VCSU’s offense, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a double to right-center. Nixon also doubled and went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
Viking second baseman Jayden Shipman singled and scored twice, and Ryan Reynolds went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
“We had some big days offensively for a few guys, and we played clean defense eight out of the nine innings,” said Olney. “It was an all-around complete game for us today against a good Mayville team. That’s a good way to head into conference play.”
Mayville State used nine different pitchers in the game. Michael Theisen led the Comet offense, going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Up next: Valley City State is currently scheduled to open conference play Friday and Saturday with a four-game series at Dakota State University. The dates and locations of those games could still change as the teams monitor weather and field conditions in Madison, S.D.