From VCSU Athletics

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State baseball team dropped both sides of a doubleheader Saturday as they opened their four-game road series at No. 11-ranked Bellevue University.

The Vikings lost game one, 6-0, and then fell 18-4 in the second game.

Valley City State is now 12-12 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Bellevue improves to 19-7 overall and 6-0 in the NSAA.

Up next: The Vikings and Bruins will play two more games Sunday starting at 1 p.m. in Bellevue, Neb.

#11 Bellevue 6, VCSU 0
Valley City State collected eight hits but was unable to push across a run in game one as the Bruins won the 9-inning contest, 6-0.

VCSU starting pitcher Marcus Niemann limited Bellevue’s powerful offense to just six hits and three earned runs over the first six innings, keeping VCSU in the game.

Bellevue finished with six runs on 12 hits. The Vikings finished with eight hits and committed two errors.

Dustin Mertz was 3-for-4 to lead the Vikings offense. Drew Nixon had a pair of hits while Judson Seliskar, Ryan Reynolds and Jaden Babiuk each had one hit.

#11 Bellevue 18, VCSU 4
The teams were tied 3-3 after the top of the second inning, but Bellevue broke the game open with five runs in the inning as the Bruins won 18-4.

A Chase Feller double followed by a 2-run single by Ryan Reynolds helped to fuel a 3-run second inning for VCSU. An RBI single by Adam Thompson tied the game at 3-3 before Bellevue answered back.

The Vikings finished with four total hits – three of which came in the second inning. Bellevue finished with 18 runs on 16 hits.

Reynolds, Thompson, Feller and Dylan Kibel had the hits for VCSU.

The Vikings used five different pitchers in the game. Jace Hanson took the loss, allowing three hits and five runs in his 1 1/3 innings to start the game.