Both teams suffered from precarious fielding in yesterday’s EDC showdown, combining for eight errors in the game. However, the Roughriders proved to be the more opportunistic side as they ground out a 7-4 win over Valley City.

After a scoreless first inning of the play, the first error was committed by Valley City after a flyball bounced out of the glove of outfielder Will Schwehr. It looked like Hi-Liner pitcher Carver Pederson would be able to work out of the jam after forcing a couple of flyouts. However, Zander Waind blooped a single over the head of Andrew Sykora to give the Roughriders a 1-0 lead.

The game was tied back up after Jack Samuelson came across to score after Corbyn Powell laced a double into the left-center gap. But errors continued to plague the Hi-Liner defense after two errors allowed three runs to score in the inning, giving the visitors a 4-1 lead. The lead was short-lived after unforced errors by Red River allowed Valley City to claw all three runs back to tie the game at 4-4.

Red River capitalized on a lead-off double in the fifth to re-capture a slim one-run lead that held until the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third with two outs, Waind elevated a ball just out of Trevor Fetsch’s reach to add some much-needed insurance to the Roughriders’ lead as Red River looked to finish off a 7-4 win.

After going 3-4 with three RBI, Waind would get an opportunity to pick up the save and quickly sat down the Hi-Liners in the seventh, dropping them to their fourth straight loss. Valley City’s next game will be Tuesday, April 30th, against the Fargo North Spartans at Charlie Brown Memorial Field.