From VCSU Athletics
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – Drew Nixon homered twice, Reed Butz struck out 12 and Dustin Mertz delivered a walk-off hit Sunday afternoon as the VCSU baseball team opened conference play with a sweep of Dickinson State University.
Valley City State pounded out 17 hits – including a 3-run home run by Nixon – in a 15-4 victory in game one. Nixon hit a solo home run in game two, and Dustin Mertz had a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth, securing a 2-1 victory. Reed Butz was dominant on the mound in game two, pitching a complete game as he struck out 12 and allowed just four hits and one unearned run.
With the pair of wins, Valley City State is now 11-9 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Dickinson State drops to 7-15 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The teams will conclude their four-game conference series with another doubleheader Monday at 1 p.m. in Tucson.
GAME 1: Valley City State 15, Dickinson State 4 (7 innings)
Valley City State erupted for 17 hits and 15 runs in game one, ending the contest after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.
The Vikings scored three runs in the first inning and six more runs in the second inning to open up a 9-1 lead. Valley City State tacked on three more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, leading 15-2 at one point.
VCSU’s Sal Avila was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs and two RBIs. David Demeter went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Jayden Shipman was 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, and Nixon drove in three runs with his 3-run home run in the second inning. VCSU’s 17 hits came from 10 different players.
Zach Veneman started on the mound and pitched five innings for the win. Veneman allowed six hits and two runs, walked four and struck out two. Dustin Mertz pitched the final two innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out two.
Jacob Scully started on the mound for Dickinson and took the loss after working 1 1/3 innings. John Koronka and Jose Torres both pitched in relief for the Blue Hawks.
Dickinson finished with eight hits in the loss, including two hits each by Derrick Calvillo and Robert Encinas.
Both teams committed two errors.
GAME 2: Valley City State 2, Dickinson State 1 (8 innings)
VCSU’s Reed Butz and Dickinson’s Brannan Hogan were locked in a pitcher’s duel in game two as both starters kept the opposing offense in check.
Butz and the Vikings were just a little better though as VCSU earned a 2-1 victory. The game was scheduled for seven innings, but needed an extra inning after the teams were tied 1-1. After Butz set the Blue Hawks down in order in the top of the eighth, Dustin Mertz delivered a walk-off single to secure the 2-1 victory.
VCSU pinch hitter Judson Seliskar drew a leadoff walk to open the eighth and then was lifted for pinch runner Jett Salonek. Jayden Shipman bunted Salonek to second and then he took third on a passed ball before Mertz singled him home.
Nixon started the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth inning, putting VCSU ahead 1-0. Dickinson tied the game in the top of the sixth when Derrick Calvillo singled home Cade Ostenson to make it 1-1.
Butz went all eight innings for the win, allowing just four hits and one unearned run. He did not walk a batter and struck out 12 en route to his fourth win of the season. After allowing a run in the sixth inning, Butz retired the next seven batters in order – including four strikeouts – to finish the game.
Hogan pitched a complete game as well, working all 7 1/3 innings for Dickinson State. Hogan gave up just five hits and two runs while striking out eight.
Mertz had two hits and the game-winning RBI for VCSU. Nixon, JT Reed and Avery Bennefeld each had one hit.
Calvillo had two hits and an RBI for Dickinson. Jacob Clinton and Ostenson each had one hit.