From VCSU Athletics

MADISON, S.D. – The Valley City State baseball team scored 25 runs and hit seven home runs Thursday as the Vikings split a high-scoring doubleheader at Dakota State University.

Dakota State scored six runs in the ninth inning of game one, rallying for a 13-12 walk-off victory over the Vikings. VCSU responded to the tough loss with a big game two. The Vikings scored four runs in the top of the first inning en route to a dominating 13-5 victory and a doubleheader split.

Valley City State is now 18-18 overall and 9-9 in conference play. Dakota State moves to 26-12 overall and 13-5 in the NSAA.

The Vikings and Trojans will conclude their four-game series Friday afternoon with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

Dakota State 13, VCSU 12
Valley City State’s Jaden Babiuk, Sal Avila and Dustin Mertz all hit solo home runs in the second inning of game one, signaling the start of a high-scoring day.

Tied 7-7 after eight innings, the Vikings put up five runs in the top of the ninth inning – including a 2-run double by Jayden Shipman and a pair of bases loaded walks – to build a commanding 12-7 lead.

The five-run advantage was not enough though as Dakota State used a six run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 13-12 walk-off victory. The Vikings were unable to record an out in the inning. Dakota State pieced together its rally with four singles, three walks and one Viking error.

Dustin Mertz hit a pair of home runs to lead the Vikings offense, going 2-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs. Jayden Shipman was 2-for-4 with a double and a team-high four RBIs. Sal Avila homered and was 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Babiuk’s solo home run was the first of his Viking career.

Marcus Niemann started on the mound for VCSU and pitched three innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Adam Thompson pitched four solid innings in relief, scattering four hits and three runs. Dustin Mertz pitched the eighth inning and started the ninth, giving up three hits and four runs. David Demeter entered with runners on in the ninth, but was not able to secure the save, allowing two hits and two runs. It was the first blown save of the season for Demeter, who has seven saves so far this season.

 

VCSU 13, Dakota State 5
The Vikings had an immediate response to the tough loss in game one, answering back with four runs in the top of the first inning.

Demeter hit a two-run home run to spark the first inning rally, and Babiuk added an RBI single to score Drew Nixon. The Vikings added two runs in the third and another in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead.

Hunter Magnuson and Sal Avila broke the game wide open in the fifth inning with a pair of home runs. Magnuson hit a 2-run shot for a 9-1 lead, and Avila followed later in the inning with a 3-run home run to make it 12-1.

That was more than enough offense for Viking starting pitcher William Hlady. The senior right-hander worked six innings on the mound and struck out nine to earn his fourth win of the season. He allowed seven hits and four runs. Mitch Taylor pitched an inning in relief, giving up two hits and a run while striking out two.

The Vikings finished with 13 hits in game two, including a 3-for-4 game by Jayden Shipman. Babiuk was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Magnuson went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. Six other Vikings had one hit each, including the home runs by Demeter and Avila.