From VCSU Athletics

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State baseball team scored 10 runs on 10 hits Thursday afternoon, but it was not quite enough as the Vikings lost a high-scoring 13-10 game to Gustavus Adolphus.

Gustavus scored in seven of its eight at bats, putting up 13 runs on 13 hits en route to the victory in Tucson, Ariz.

Valley City State drops to 8-9 overall this season. The Vikings will face Concordia-Wisconsin on Friday at 2 p.m. CT in Tucson. Gustavus improves to 5-2 overall this season.

For the second day in a row, Valley City State went with a “pitcher by committee” approach as the Vikings try to keep their top arms fresh for the four-game conference series against Dickinson State on March 20-21.

Senior William Hlady started on the mound and went 2 2/3 solid innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. He was one of seven pitchers to take the mound Thursday for VCSU.

Offensively, Dustin Mertz hit a 3-run home run and finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs. JT Reed also homered as he was 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.

Reed’s home run was a 2-run blast in the first inning, giving the Vikings an early 2-0 led. Mertz hit his 3-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, putting the Vikings ahead 5-2. Gustavus answered by scoring in its next five at bats, keeping VCSU at bay in the final innings.

VCSU freshman Hunter Magnuson also had a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Up next: Valley City State faces Concordia-Wisconsin in a 9-inning game Friday at 2 p.m. CT.