MAYVILLE, ND (NewsDakota.com and VCSUVikings.com) Viking head baseball coach Alec DeMaria said his team’s Saturday 12-inning win over Mayville State was “satisfying”.
“That kind of win wouldn’t have happened in the early part of the season,” DeMaria said. Our guys have changed so much, and they have the confidence to win games like that.”
If Saturday was satisfying, Sunday was thrilling.
The Vikings took two more from Mayville State, both in similar fashion, with two runs in their final at-bat to overcome one-run deficits for wins of 2-1 and 7-6.
Saturday saw the Vikings win 4-1 in game one, and 8-6 in 12 innings in game two, launching an eventual four-game sweep of Mayville State. With Waldorf and Viterbo splitting a weekend series in Forest City, the Vikings are now alone in third place in the North Star standings, now 10-10 in conference play.
GAME 1
Two big miscues by the Vikings, one offensively, and one defensively, threatened to undo their first-game effort, but it was a miscue by the Comets that helped determine the outcome.
With the Vikings trailing 1-0 with two outs in the seventh, Comet pitcher Derek Palmiere would issue his only walk of the game, a free pass to Viking first-baseman Kaden Rozdeba, sending him to first base, and moving right-fielder Dustin Mertz, who had singled previously, to second base.
A pass ball, lost by catcher Caleb Jamieson a moment later sent both runners into scoring position, and a ground ball single to center by Daegon Morcom, just evading a diving effort by Comet shortstop Anthony Villaneuva, scored both Mertz and Cam Pero, delivering the Vikings their first lead of the game.
Viking pitcher Chris Dietrich would secure two quick outs, then walk Comet pinch-hitter Zach Evanachko, allowing Comet leadoff hitter Marcus Hughes to come to the plate a fourth time. But Dietrich would induce a popup to Viking shortstop Jaden Babiuk, securing the 2-1 win.
Dietrich pitched masterfully, earning his first complete game effort of the season. He allowed just one unearned run, struck out eight, and allowed just four hits in the gem.
Yet, Dietrich had to pass one stiff test.
After allowing the unearned run in the third, Dietrich started the fourth with a popup-out from Comet Cameron Lundmark, but then pitched himself into a jam, walking DH Riley Rankin, plunking first-baseman Michael Feralio, and issuing a free pass to Jamieson, loading the bases for the Comets with one out.
Then, Dietrich delivered two huge pressure pitches. He fanned left-fielder Sam Hilgersom on a 3-2 fastball for the second out, and got second-baseman Ricky Marquez to roll out to Babiuk, stranding the bases full.
Two big mistakes loomed over the Vikings through the game. In the third, Hilgersom led off with a single, and, with two outs, Villaneuva sent a ground ball deep in the well between shortstop and third base.
Babiuk fielded the ball with little chance to get Villaneuva at first, but attempted a throw while in the air falling away from the infield. The throw hit the grass and evaded Rozdeba’s glove at first, rolling toward the Mayville State dugout and allowing Hilgersom to score what would be the Comet’s only run.
The Vikings had a great chance to even the game in the fifth after third-baseman Cody Wielgosh led off with a single and advanced to second on a pass ball. Palmiere, already having picked off a Viking runner in the first, turned to make a move to second on a pickoff play.
Wielgosh, seemingly believing he had the play beat, didn’t slide back to second base, and was tagged near the midsection. He was ruled out, a call that led to a brief discussion between both umpires and DeMaria. The call stood.
Wielgosh, however, made two tight defensive plays in the game. Jamieson popped up to the third-base side in foul territory in the second, and Wielgosh was able to find the angled fence, somewhat unique to Veterans Stadium in Mayville, with his bare hand while keeping his eyes up and making the catch to end the inning.
In the third, Wielgosh would take away an extra base hit from Hughes, when Hughes roped a sharp ground ball that skipped over third base. Wielgosh back-handed the ball and gunned out Hughes, a play that prevented Wielgosh from scoring until later in the inning, and kept Hughes, who runs well, off the bases.
Dietrich did the rest, delivering up-and-down innings in the fifth and sixth, sending down 10 straight batters in order after allowing the based to be loaded in the fifth.
GAME 2
Valley City State again rallied in their last at bat of the series finale. Trailing 6-5 entering the top of the ninth, VCSU was down to its final strike before Kaden Rozdeba doubled to the left-center gap – scoring both Dustin Mertz and Cody Wielgosh for a 7-6 lead.
After Mayville’s leadoff runner reached in the ninth, lefty Connor Nelson took over on the mound and got three straight outs to preserve a Viking victory.
Nelson’s quick save capped off an impressive game by the Viking bullpen. Starter Kahlil Tilbury ran into early trouble and was chased in the bottom of the first inning after allowing three hits, three walks and five runs. The Viking bullpen picked him up though as Jacob Marx, Riley Resnick and Nelson combined to allow just four hits and one run over the final 8 1/3 innings.
Marx pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Tilbury, allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out five. Resnick earned the win as he pitched in the late innings, giving up one hit and one run over 1 2/3 innings. Nelson earned his five save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
VCSU managed nine hits in the game, including two each by Jay Greuel, Jaden Babiuk and Christian Ramirez. Daegen Morcom hit a solo home run, and Rozdeba’s 2-run double proved to be the biggest hit for VCSU’s offense.