BISMARCK, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The North Star Athletic Association announced its eighth baseball weekly honors edition Monday. Corey Jackson of Bellevue (Neb.) was selected as the Pitcher-of-the-Week. Dustin Mertz of Valley City State (N.D.) was named as the Player-of-the-Week.
North Star Athletic Association Baseball Player-of-the-Week
Dustin Mertz – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’1″ – Freshman – catcher/utility – West Fargo, N.D. – Mertz smashed a home run in five of Valley City State’s (N.D.) six games as they went 4-2 record for the week. He posted a batting average of .579 by going 11-of-19 at the plate. He registered an on-base percentage of .692 and a 1.474 slugging percentage. For the week, Mertz scored 13 runs, drove in 11 runs, reached on base by a walk six times, and hit two doubles. He also swiped two bases.
North Star Athletic Association Baseball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Corey Jackson – Bellevue (Neb.) – 5’10” – Senior – pitcher – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Jackson struck out a total of 18 batters, setting a school record for a seven-inning game victory as Bellevue (Neb.) went 5-0 record for the week. He tossed a complete game 3-0 victory at Viterbo (Wis.), limiting the V-Hawks to four hits. It was Jackson’s third complete game shutout of the year and recorded at least 10 strikeouts for the third straight game. He posted an earned run average (ERA) with 62 strikeouts in his last 38 innings for work (14.7 strikeouts per 9 innings).
Recap from last week’s games
Bellevue (Neb.), receiving votes in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, collected five wins for the week. The Bruins started the week with a 1-0 11-inning home victory over Morningside (Iowa) on March 30. BU completed the NSAA four-game series sweep at Viterbo (Wis.) on April 2-3. Bellevue won by the scores of 9-4 and 3-0 on April 2, followed by 16-5 7-inning and 14-1 wins on April 3. Bellevue lifted their overall record to 24-10. Viterbo fell to 8-13 overall record and 3-5 NSAA conference record.
Mayville State (N.D.) earned a four-game series sweep at Presentation (S.D.) in NSAA action on April 2-3. The Comets shut down the Saints 13-0 and 11-1 on April 2. MSU added 12-6 and 9-3 victories on April 3, raising their overall record to 17-8. Presentation dropped their overall record to 5-25 and 1-7 NSAA conference record.
Bellevue and Mayville State are currently tied for first in the NSAA conference standings with 6-2 record each.
Dakota State (S.D.) split a doubleheader with Valley City State (N.D.) on March 29. The Trojans held on to a 12-11 victory in the first game before the Vikings rallied back to win 9-7 in the series finale. DaSU fell short to Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 8-7 in a nine-inning game on March 31. Dakota State defeated Waldorf (Iowa) in the first three games of the four-game series at Waldorf (Iowa), earning 23-13 and 8-7 victories on April 2. The Trojans won the first game 16-11 on April 3 as the Warriors shut down DaSU 3-0 in the four-game series finale.
Dakota State is 12-11 overall record. Waldorf, which also fell to Grand View (Iowa) in a 21-14 high-scoring nine-inning affair at home on March 30, is 10-17 overall record and 4-4 record in league contests.
Valley City State swept at Dickinson State (N.D.) in a doubleheader on April 2, winning 16-5 and 20-5. The Vikings won the first game 14-3 on April 3 before the Blue Hawks closed out the four-game series with a 5-4 victory. VCSU is 12-17 overall record, while Dickinson State is 4-16 overall record and 2-6 NSAA conference record.
DaSU and VCSU are tied for third in the NSAA conference standings with a 5-3 record each.
Looking Ahead
The North Star conference action continues Tuesday with a doubleheader featuring Mayville State (N.D.) at Valley City State (N.D.), Viterbo (Wis.) at Waldorf (Iowa) and Dakota State (S.D.) at Bellevue (Neb.).
Presentation (S.D.) travels to Dickinson State (N.D.) for NSAA doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.
Mayville State hosts Dakota State and Bellevue visits at Valley City State (N.D.) for the NSAA four-game series on Friday and Saturday. Waldorf heads to Presentation and Viterbo travels to Dickinson State for the conference four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.